When Fernando Torres moved to Chelsea at the conclusion of the 2011 January transfer window, Liverpool fans were collectively gutted.
One of the most electrifying forwards to pull on a red shirt was leaving, and for a Premier League rival.
£50 million had been coughed up, but that felt like cold comfort. A few years later though, and those Reds fans were thanking their lucky stars that they did part company with the Spaniard.
Torres was a different player in London, unable to capture the form that made him so beloved on Merseyside.
It was something that Liverpool players saw coming, however.
Writing in his Daily Telegraph column, Carragher said:
When Chelsea bid £50 million for Torres in January 2011 there was consternation among Liverpool supporters. Although we could never state it publicly at the time, there was general astonishment in our dressing room. We thought Chelsea had not been watching him for the previous 12 months. We knew Chelsea did not sign the player they thought.
Carragher was writing about Alexis Sanchez joining Manchester United, believing history might be repeating itself in Salford. I think I speak for all Liverpool fans when I say I sincerely hope that happens.
