Ancelotti’s fate relies on Torres hitting form

If Fernando Torres was forced into the Europa League... it wouldn’t be just Liverpool supporters laughing.

AS his former team-mates ran in great circles of joy to celebrate their goal and John Terry led the inquest into a Chelsea defensive disaster, Fernando Torres stared down from the stand, lips pursed in silent disgust, like a man who had cunningly changed queues in the supermarket only to watch the person ahead announce that they are not moving until they get to speak to the manager.

“Should have stayed with a big club” the Liverpool fans sang. Their Torres banners ranged from one in the style of the Sky Sports News ticker: “breaking news: ya paid £50 mill for margi clarke” to the rather more pompous “he who betrays will always walk alone”.