Liverpool could discover just how much they may miss Fernando Torres should the Spain striker make his debut for Chelsea against his old side on Sunday just days after completing a STG50 million ($A79.46 million) move.
Liverpool make the trip to Stamford Bridge, having effectively used the Torres cash and more to sign club record signing Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez for a combined STG57.8 million ($A91.86 million).
Liverpool may have enjoyed something of a resurgence under Kenny Dalglish, having won their last three games with clean sheets to move up to seventh place in the Premier League table.
But that still leaves them nine points adrift of Chelsea and a whopping 19 adrift of leaders Manchester United - something that's tough to take for Liverpool's loyal followers who remember the glory years of the mid 1970s and 1980s.
However, it's now more than 20 years since Liverpool were last crowned champions of England and to some the only surprise was that Torres stayed as long as he did on Merseyside.
Even so, the 26-year-old's words on joining Chelsea would have stung Liverpool fans.
"Chelsea are the kind of team I want to play for," Torres said. "They are one of the biggest teams in Europe and are always fighting for everything.
"The target for every footballer is to play in one of the top-level clubs in the world and I can do it now."
Dalglish, arguably Liverpool's greatest forward and now in his second spell as manager, did not rise to the implied suggestion the team he has served with such distinction was no longer a world-class club.
"I don't know what he has had to say since he joined (Chelsea) - I only knew what he said when he was here," said Dalglish. "I don't know whose gain it is (in the transfer dealings) and neither will anyone until years have gone by."
The injured Carroll may still be waiting in the wings for a while yet but Uruguay striker Suarez scored on debut after coming off the bench in a 2-0 win over Stoke on Wednesday.
Manchester United, in their first match since veteran full-back Gary Neville annunced his retirement with immediate effect on Wednesday, will be firm favourites to extend their unbeaten league run this term to 25 games against bottom of the table Wolves at
Molineux in Saturday's late match.
Arsenal can cut United's lead, temporarily at least, to two points if they win away to Newcastle before the leaders kick-off.
Sunday sees West Ham, who moved off the bottom of the table with a 3-1 win away to Blackpool in midweek face a Birmingham side who are above the relegation zone on goal difference alone despite denting Manchester City's title ambitions in a 2-2 draw last time
out.
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