• Premier League

Skrtel predicts Torres could regret Liverpool exit

ESPN staff
February 2, 2011
Martin Skrtel predicts Liverpool will be stronger without Fernando Torres © PA Photos
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Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has warned Fernando Torres he will not score on his Chelsea debut, and he told the Spaniard to prepare for a miserable time at Stamford Bridge.

Skrtel has watched the amazing events of the past few days unfold at Anfield, with Torres joining rivals Chelsea for a staggering £50 million price tag. The defender revealed the entire Liverpool squad expected El Nino's departure, but he is not entirely sure it will prove the right move now that Kenny Dalglish is the Reds' manager.

"I expected it," Skrtel told isport.blesk.cz. "There had been plenty of talk for a long time before and when he was not training with us in the last two days, nor was he in the training centre, the speculation just seemed to come true.

"This season has not been going according to our wishes and expectations and that convinced him that it is the right time to move elsewhere. This is how he explained it to us.

"We all feel sorry because he's a player of world class ability but, to be honest, it was no surprise. I wish him all the best but do not wish any success to Chelsea. Maybe Fernando will regret making this step sometime in the future."

By quirk of the Premier League fixture list, Torres' debut will come against Liverpool on Sunday, where he will possibly be marked by Skrtel if Jamie Carragher fails to return from injury.

"It will be different because so far I have been playing against him only in training," said Skrtel. "I hope he appears on the pitch and, since Chelsea wanted him so much, it is very likely that he will.

"I'm looking forward and firmly believe I won't let him score."

Skrtel also told Torres that he is unlikely to be missed, following the double capture of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll.

"We have captured Suarez and Carroll. I believe these two will replace him and we will be at least as strong as we were with Nando."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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