- Premier League
We don't need Torres - Carragher
February 6, 2011
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has backed Fernando Torres to be a success for Chelsea, but insisted the Spaniard's former team-mates have already moved on from his deadline day move to Stamford Bridge.
Torres' Blues debut ended in a 1-0 home defeat to his former club, with the striker unable to break through Carragher and co in what was a disappointing bow.
Raul Meireles hooked home from close range after 68 minutes to secure three points for Kenny Dalglish's visitors - moments after Torres had been replaced by Salomon Kalou.
"Good players come and go," Carragher told Sky Sports. "We've played against plenty of players [who have left]... we used to play against Robbie Fowler when he went to Leeds... it's not easy. You know the quality.
"Fernando is one of the best strikers in the world and I'm sure he'll prove that for Chelsea but he's not with us now. We've got to focus on our own team, do our own jobs and that's what we did.''
The win saw the Reds move up to sixth in the Premier League standings as the club continue their recovery under caretaker boss Dalglish following the departure of Roy Hodgson.
Carragher admitted the players did not perform well enough under Hodgson, but is now keen to look to the future and would love to see Dalglish installed as permanent boss.
"I have great respect for Roy so I'd never say 'things have changed for the better' and that type of stuff,'' he said. "As a club and as players we didn't do enough to help the manager out - the performances weren't good enough and obviously the managers take the brunt of it.
"Things have improved now ad Kenny coming has got everyone onside. That's not our decision. That's up to the club owners. For everyone, especially me and Stevie [Gerrard], he's a hero to us. The results are obviously going very well. If you're asking me, obviously I'd love him to be the manager.''
Dalglish refused to drawn on whether he should be offered the manager's job full-time.
"My concern is the Wigan match next week,'' he said. "The owners have been fantastic in their support during the transfer window. You've got to give credit to them. I think by their actions they are making decisions that are in the best interests of this football club.''
Dalglish admitted Liverpool are "on a good roll at the moment'' and said he hoped that the Reds could continue to build on recent results.
"That's four clean sheets on the bounce which is really important for us. And four victories. We have to take each game as it comes.''
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted his team were below par, adding: "We did not play well. Our performance was not good enough to win this game. Liverpool defended very well and we were not able to find the space.''
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
