LIVERPOOL CELEBRATE REINA, TORRES ANNIVERSARIES

Liverpool recently celebrated the anniversaries of the Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina transfers. The two Spanish players were celebrated earlier this month. For Fernando Torres, the attacker was signed from boyhood team Atletico Madrid on July 4, 2007 and July 4, 2022 made it 15 years since his transfer. On the part of Pepe Reina, Villarreal were paid £6m for his transfer on July 4, 2005 and July 4, 2022 made it 17 years since his transfer.

Shot stopper Reina signed for Liverpool shortly after they had won the Champions League title in 2005 and he went on to become the first choice goalkeeper for several years. He was in the Liverpool goal when the Reds were beaten by Italian Serie A giants AC Milan in the final. Milan were able to avenge their defeat to Liverpool at the same stage of the competition two years earlier. Milan led 3-0 at halftime at the expense of Liverpool during the 2005 Champions League final before the Reds produced an unlikely second half comeback with three goals in six minutes at the start of the half. The game went into extra time and penalties before Liverpool emerged victorious. For the 2007 Champions League final, Milan took their pound of flesh on Liverpool with a 2-1 win.

While Pepe Reina signed for Liverpool after the 2005 Champions League final, Fernando Torres signed for Liverpool after the 2007 Champions League final. Liverpool broke their transfer record to signTorres from Atletico Madrid and he didn’t disappoint on the pitch.

At Liverpool, Fernando Torres became one of the most feared strikers in the world. His partnership with club skipper Steven Gerrard in attack was a major highlight of his time at Liverpool. The two players found the back of the net 54 times between them in their first season together.