What made Torres great?
During Torres' time with the Reds, he was considered one of the best strikers on the planet.
His prowess was seen by the fact that he scored 50 goals for Liverpool faster than anybody else
But what made him such a fantastic player?
While Torres was a very well rounded player, three skills made him elite
His pace, shot, and tenacity were what made him great.
Image courtesy of Sky Sports
Image Courtesy of Anfield Wrap
Pace
Torres was known for his lightning quick pace.
This goal is a perfect example of Torres' speed.
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He picks up the ball from a Steven Gerrard pass and runs straight at the defense.
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He is so quick that Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim has no chance of catching him.
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FIFA in their annual video game rated Torres as the third fastest player in the world.
GIF made from video courtesy of Liverpool FC
Image Courtesy of four four two Arabia
Shot
Torres was known for having a deadly shot.
This goal against Middlesbrough is a perfect example of it.
He picks up the ball about 25 yards from goal and only needs a few touches before he hammers the ball into the net.
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FIFA ranked Torres as having the sixth best shot in the world.
GIF made from video courtesy of Liverpool FC
Image Courtesy of The Kop Times
Tenacity
Torres never gave up.
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This is a perfect example of his willingness to run.
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He anticipates the bounce and starts running towards the ball before the defender can react.
GIF made from video courtesy of Liverpool FC
The Beginning of the End
In 2010, Torres started to suffer from chronic knee pain.
He made the journey to Barcelona to see a specialist and was informed that surgery was required.
After the procedure, Torres missed the rest of the season and was rushed back in order to make the World Cup.
Torres describes the pain he feels in his book.
"It felt like I had been shot," said Torres in his autobiography. "A sharp sudden pain went through my leg and I knew what had happened."
Torres was never the same after he returned.
His once lightning quick pace was gone and his shot was no longer as powerful.
This is seen in his FIFA statistics which dropped. Torres is no longer even in the top 20 of players in the world.
He has only scored 85 goals in the rest of his European career.
Torres recovering from his injury. He was never the same player. (Image courtesy of The Guardian)
Graph that shows Torres diminishing shot (Courtesy ofTomkins Times)