Home > Football > Torres, Babel, Benayoun and Heinze for Liverpool: Are you watching, Chelsea?
Torres, Babel, Benayoun and Heinze for Liverpool: Are you watching, Chelsea?
Anfield's American owners have provided the cash, and Rafa Benitez is on a spending spree. But will it be enough to crack Manchester United and Chelsea's Premiership dominance?
by Steve Bott on 12 July 2007
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Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel, Yossi Benayoun and Gabriel Heinze - £50m worth of talent that will have the rest of the Premiership quaking when they face Liverpool next season.The Anfield club's American owners have backed up their promise to give Rafael Benitez the cash to bolster his squad - and bolster it he is about to do with some more top quality signings to add to the £26m purchase of Torres. The Spanish hit man is already netted and Babel and Benayoun are set to join him soon by all accounts. That just leaves Heinze to make the short trip along the M62 once Sir Alex Ferguson and United get used to the idea of selling one of their better players to their Scouse arch rivals.Even Roman Abramovich will be quaking in his boots at the outlay by Liverpool. Chelsea FC seem to be downsizing now as Abramovich draws in the purse strings on his billions. But they are still signing quality players such as Tal Ben Haim and Steve Sidwell - they are just not splashing out hugely inflated sums like some of their rivals appear all too willing to do.'Even Roman Abramovich will be quaking in his boots at the outlay by Liverpool. Chelsea seem to be downsizing now as Abramovich draws in the purse strings on his billions'Manchester United, once notoriously regarded as the tight wads of the top flight because of their refusal to be mugged in the transfer market, are prepared to sign increasingly bigger and bigger cheques - and that's despite being saddled with hundreds of millions of pounds worth of debt by the Glazers. So Liverpool have ensured they will be more than a match for Chelsea, United and Arsenal this coming season.On the other hand, Roy Keane, another former United legend, is playing it cool as the cameras and media circus focus in on his upcoming debut as a Premiership manager. There is already talk that Keane is set for Old Trafford once Fergie retires - when pigs sprout wings that is. Fergie retiring? I mean! I think he's more likely to be carried out of OT feet first!Keane did a near miraculous job in converting Sunderland from a rock bottom Championship side to champions in little more than half a season, but he says he is very much on trial now in the top flight with the Black Cats. Wise move Roy. But I feel sure he will land a top job, or take Sunderland to the pinnacle and stay with them even, in the long term.
Premier league, Transfer rumours, Sports News
Comments (45)
by EuroBlue on July 12, 2007
WOW, Liverpool spunking the cash, over the odds, for a load of quite mediocre signings. Heinze didn't make the grade at Manchester United, what makes anyone think that tactical genius Tubby Benitez will manage to get more out of him at Liverpool? As for Torres, I don't think that many Premiership defences will quake when facing him, apart from laughing at a grossly over-inflated price tag. The guy might be media-friendly, causing headlines everytime he changes his haircut, but the fact is that he's very far from being a quality striker, rarely making the top 5 strikers in the Liga (never, if you take out his penalties). Contact with a few Premiership defenders will be different from what he's used to in La Liga. Furthermore, he's Spanish, and there is a proud history of Spanish players choking in England. So really, nobody's that worried about Liverpool's spending. We're all looking forward to next summer and hearing Tubby's excuse for another season of finishing 3rd.
by mick on July 12, 2007
Can someone get a pic of Robbie giving it the five fingers. it would make a good banner with the caption THE HAND OF GOD
by Dave Jennings on July 12, 2007
LOL! I have never read such utter cr*p in my whole entire time on this planet. One could literally have travelled the planet in search of a blind, deaf and possible comatosed Yak and managed to converse with a higher level of intellect and footballing knowledge than this clown posesses. I mean Benayoun quality? Don't make me laugh. Plus you're not even signing Heinze and Torres is ridiculously overrated. Plus Malouda is easily better than Babel. Now I am not for one second saying you bin-dippers will not improve and give the top teams a run for their money, but there is just no need to right such awful/painful/dire/hilarious pieces of bunk. Dave
by Ieuan Pearn on July 12, 2007
LOL! LOL! LOL! Literally the biggest piece of nonsense I have ever read! This guy has the brains of a small rodent.
by Voiceofreason. on July 12, 2007
Heinze infact did make it at Manchester Utd, he has played out of his skin for them. And I hear Ferguson still wants to keep him. However, Sidwell did not make it at Arsenal. Pizarro has been nothing short of poor in his appearences in the Champions League. That coupled with Lampard and Robben dying to leave. I feel Chelsea should definitely quaking. Mwah.
by Macca on July 12, 2007
This guy should be arrested for attempting to imitate someone who knows anything about football. Insult to every supporter in england. What a plank.
by Henderson on July 12, 2007
What a clown. Again, another sad fool who has probably never been to anfield. Plastic Scouser for sure. Pizarro poor? Idiot.
by Voiceofreason on July 12, 2007
Aww bless.
by Indepedent on July 12, 2007
You are right !!! this time it won't be 20 points the difference, possibly 19 ! - good luck with your excuses
by Shane Robinson on July 12, 2007
Wow man, so much hypocrisy in your piece I don't know where to begin but here we go! Henize never made the grade at United? He was voted the fans player of the year in his first season, we all know what that double knee injury did to him last year so WRONG. Torres over inflated?? Dar, dear, how can you say that with a straight face after what your lot paid for Scheva last year and he's 30?? Or the money paid for Shaun-Wright Phillips when everyone else was millions off that? Of this proud history of Spanish players whom choke in England. Do you mean Alonso? Reina? Fabregas? Reyes? or are you basing your sweeping statement on Morientes? Never have I come across a piece so completely wrong and open for shooting down. You really are a muppet, well done for showing Chelsea fans for what they really are, clueless morons with no real knowledge of what they speak of. Back home and do some research before you make a tit of yourself again
by Harry on July 12, 2007
Are you joking??? Chelsea are much shrewder than you think. Their lack of spending still incorporates Malouda, who turned down Liverpool, and possibly Dani Alves, who has stated his desire to join us. Aside from that, we have signed Sidwell, as decent cover player, Pizarro, a proven and experienced scorerand Ben Haim, who is better thean his former club suggests (as with Gudjohnsen. Torres scored as many goals last season as Shevchenko in all competitions and he was the penalty taker. Ryan Babel is not that good, the Holland U20 coach stated that he wasn't ready to move. Yossi Benayoun?? Yes he has Gerrard, Mascherano and Alonso quaking in their boots about him getting a start. Add to this the fact that Chelsea may sign two of the best young players in the world, Pato and Drenthe (both of whom I have seen play in domestic football). I think that Chelsea could beat Liverpool with a reserve team next season.
by Jonesy on July 12, 2007
Am amazed that chelski fans are prepared to introduce Benitez's physical appearance into the discussion. I though tthei racquisition of sidwell would make them remove that element from the agenda instantly. There goes any advantage you ever felt you had. I shudder when my poor old tv screen has to braodcast his butt ugly face. Bu tit does show that BRafa has REALLY got under their skin; could it be because he has got Moaninho's number and usually comes off best in the head-to-head. Nice to see you hurting.
by kris on July 12, 2007
Torres "very far from being a quality striker"!?? R u for real, r u sober? I can agree with the other things u wrote though. I think Benitez makes mistakes in his training approach and that is why even the most talented 11 in the world wouldn't help to win PL under him.
by Wictor on July 12, 2007
Sidwell, Ben Haim. Pizarro, Alex, Malouda and Alves. - Are you watching Liverpool?
by steven on July 12, 2007
alot of chelsea fans saying that Torres was very expensive, but yet 30million of Sheva, now hes 30 years old and had a terrible first season at Chelsea, but yet we spend 26.5mill on Torres (23 yrs old) and he was the captain at athletico, now i'm not trying to say he will be amazing at the pool, but its funnt when i hear Chelsea supporters slagging him, overall i think Chelsea supporters are still sour about Gerrard staying at Anfield and Chelsea being stuck with overrated Lampard.
by cov on July 12, 2007
Not one of those players would get into Chelsea or Man Utd's first team
by Jim on July 12, 2007
Just tell me how does an areshole like you get be an authority on football!! I have never read such bollocks in all my time!! I know football is all about opinions, but yours in very unbalanced mate. As for the rest of you Chelsea fans, you really do forget about wating almost 100 million on Sheva, SWP, Kezman, Duff and Feraira!!! Dicks, the lot of you!!
by Royal Tea on July 12, 2007
I live in Spain and have watched Torres a lot over the past few seasons. He is definitely overrated and despite the fact that he took the penalties for Atl Madrid still wasn't a prolific scorer. Shevchenko was not good for Chelsea last year but do not compare Torres to Shevchenko at his best. He's light years away.Yes I think Chelsea are watching. Watching another false dawn for Liverpool
Chelsea may have wasted much money but we can afford to do so, to give the typical Chelsea response. Steven, I am not bitter about having the best midfielder in the Premiership over the last 3-4 seasons (except for maybe Essien) who made the most consecutive appearances and scored the most goals ever by a midfielder recently. You can keep Gerrard, who if you remember, almost left you twice.
by rowan Blades on July 12, 2007
Rafa has not bought any proven prem quality...and chels are about to buy our number 1 target, Alves, who would walk into any first team, anywhere in the world. Rafa's buys are all risky BUT he does know how to get the best out of players...which is our saving grace. I don't think anyone is shitting themselves about us, we are still playing catch up and will be for some time. Had we bought Torres, Tevez and Alves, then i might agree with you...but we have the LEAST proven of the 3 with our rivals mopping up the really good pair. We still need another CB, i reckon heinze is a smokescreen for kompany or milito. We were never in for mancini or quasmera, they were cloaks for babel....whos a poor second choice to Alves.
by Colin on July 12, 2007
Why would Chelsea be quaking? They still have multiple quality players and while the Liverpool squad has improved with these signings and Torres will score goals (not scoring loads of goals in a poor Athletico side does not change the fact that he is a talented player) and the other players, Liverpool still need to look to bring in greater quality! Heinze can't get into the United team, why should we settle for Man United squad players! We need Kompany or Milito.
by chelsea49 on July 12, 2007
You must be joking whilst we have spent a modest amount in cash terms if we had bought all the players at market prices we would have spent close to £30m. Liverpool won't be within 7/10 points of Chelsea/Mancs at the end of the season..yet another false dawn for the scousers..Ha Ha!
by Rob on July 12, 2007
The facile crap that fills this article, or the witless and illiterate drivel that exemplifies the Liverpool comments on here. Christ, what a shower.
So it's OK for the Chelsea fans to use foul and abusive langauage but when anyone else does it then that is terrible...talk about double standards!! Why do either set of supporters think that it is Ok to write such profane language?
ABSOLUTE BUNCH OF CLOWNS! YOU BIN DIPPERS KNOW NOTHING ABOUT FOOTBALL. PLASTIC SCOUSERS. BENAYOUN...WE'RE BRICKING IT.