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FERNANDO TORRES has picked his best-ever combined XI of Chelsea and Liverpool players – and snubbed Eden Hazard for Yossi Benayoun.
The Spanish legend, 36, retired last season following a spell at Japanese side Sagan Tosu.

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Fernando Torres’ combined Chelsea-Liverpool XI does not feature Hazard

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Fernando Torres left Hazard out of combined Liverpool-Chelsea XICredit: EPA

Torres enjoyed arguably his finest years at Liverpool between 2007 and 2011 before his £50million move to Chelsea – where he would spend a further four years.
The former Atletico Madrid played with a host of huge-name stars during his illustrious career, in which he won the Champions League in 2011-12.
But when asked to pick a combined XI from his days in the Premier League, Torres bizarrely left out Hazard.
After also leaving out the likes of Jamie Carragher, Juan Mata and Petr Cech, Torres told the Chelsea FC website: “I feel bad because I’ve had to leave out so many people who deserve to be in here.

“There would be fantastic players like Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, Petr Cech and a lot of others on the bench.
“It is not easy because I could make two or three teams of people I played with at Chelsea and Liverpool, and all of them would be good enough to win the Premier League in any year.
“What I would say about that is, it shows I was really lucky to play with so many great players during my time in England, at both clubs.”
Check out Torres’ full XI – and his reasons for picking them – below…

GOALKEEPER

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Pepe Reina beat Petr Cech to the spot in goalCredit: Bradley Ormesher – The Times
Pepe Reina
HAVING played with Petr Cech at Chelsea, it was almost a straight fight between the Czech ace and Reina for the spot.
On picking the Spaniard, Torres claimed: “With Reina I shared many times in Liverpool and also in the national team.
“Petr Cech is obviously one of the best goalkeepers I ever played with, so it would be a very difficult decision as a coach to make.”
DEFENDERS

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John Terry and Ashley Cole both make Torres back-fourCredit: PA:Press Association
Branislav Ivanovic, Sami Hyypia, John Terry, Ashley Cole
IN creating his all-time Chelsea-Liverpool back-four, Torres left out some big-name stars.
Torres explained: “‘I’ll go for a back four with Brani Ivanovic on the right. He’s a great guy, a great player and the kind of player that I would always want in my team.
“I would have Sami Hyypia and John Terry in the middle of the defence.
“[They’re] two strong centre-backs who are good with the ball and without the ball.
“I think they would be a really good partnership as well.
“Then, at left-back, Ashley Cole – he always performed at a great level, in all aspects, offensive and defensive, and you can see what an amazing career he had.
“He was a great all-round player. I think that’s a really good line of four at the back.”
MIDFIELDERS

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Gerrard and Alonso are joined by Lampard in a star-studded midfield threeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Frank Lampard
TORRES described picking his midfield as the toughest decision out of the XI.
But he revealed: “The midfield might be the most difficult part, as I’ve been lucky to play with some fantastic midfielders.
“Obviously I have to go for Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, both of them have to be in there.
“They are two of the best midfielders in English and Premier League history.
“They are legends to Liverpool and Chelsea, and also in the national team in England.
“I was very lucky to play with both of them and they have to be in the team.
“I played with many, many great players and I’m worried I’m going to have to leave some of them out, but I will have Xabi Alonso as the other midfielder, playing behind Gerrard and Lampard.”
FORWARDS

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Kuyt and Drogba join Benayoun in a slightly odd attacking groupCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
Dirk Kuyt, Didier Drogba, Yossi Benayoun
IT’S up front where the decisions get a little more wacky, with Kuyt and Benayoun – who played for both Liverpool and Chelsea – in ahead of the likes of Hazard.
Torres explained: “I will get Yossi Benayoun in there, who played for both Liverpool and Chelsea.
“He’s a great friend and a great player.
“It was easy to play with him for me, he was always trying to give chances to the striker and looking for those small gaps that no-one can see but him.
“I will pick Dirk Kuyt on the right. He was always scoring important goals and put in a lot of hard work, always.
“It was amazing seeing the way he used to work and I don’t think people really appreciated how good he was, but I could see it every day in training.
“Obviously, Didier Drogba has to be up front.
“He’s a Chelsea legend and after winning the Champions League with his equaliser at the end of the game and him scoring the last penalty, he has to be in there.”

Watch Steven Gerrard’s testimonial video message to old Liverpool team-mate Fernando Torres after the Spaniard’s final game More

KEPA ARRIZABALAGA had another afternoon to forget as Chelsea were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Liverpool on Sunday.
The Spaniard, 24, looked all at sea throughout the game – and his howler allowed Sadio Mane to double the Reds’ lead early in the second-half.

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Chelsea’s worst-ever flop XI includes Kepa and Bakayoko

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Kepa smashed a clearance straight at Mane, allowing the Reds star to score in Chelsea’s 2-0 loss at home to LiverpoolCredit: AFP

Arrizabalaga attempted to clear the ball only to punt it straight at Mane’s boot, allowing the Kop ace to poke home into an empty net.
Howler aside, the ex-Athletic Bilbao stopper looked uncomfortable throughout.
The Spanish goalkeeper is set to be replaced by Rennes’ Edouard Mendy in a £22million deal this summer.
Should that deal go through, Kepa’s time at Chelsea is surely finished.

With the Spaniard’s future up in the air, we take a look at Chelsea’s all-time flop XI, with Kepa between the sticks…
GOALKEEPER – Kepa Arrizabalaga

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Kepa has quickly become one of Chelsea’s worst-ever signingsCredit: EPA
KEPA joined Chelsea in a club-record £71.6m in the summer of 2018 – also a world-record fee for a goalkeeper.
But the Spaniard has never fully settled at the Blues and has looked well out of his depth, making howler after howler.
His refusal to be taken off for penalty-specialist Willy Caballero in the 2019 Carabao Cup final was another black mark on his Chelsea record.

The Blues went on to lose the shootout 4-3 at the expense of Manchester City.
RIGHT-BACK – Juan Cuadrado

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Cuadrado never found his feet in England before being sent back to ItalyCredit: Reuters
THE Colombian joined Chelsea in 2015 from Fiorentina for £26.8m with a reputation for being an exciting, attacking winger.
But he played just 13 times in the league and failed to adapt to life in the Premier League.
He would go on to spent 18 months of his two-year stint on loan at Juventus.
Cuadrado joined Juve permanently in the summer of 2017 – where he has since been converted to a right-back.
CENTRE-BACK – Tal Ben-Haim

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Ben-Haim fell out with Avram Grant, was fined and then sold to Man CityCredit: Reuters
AFTER three solid years at Bolton, then-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho made a surprise move for the Israel star in 2008.
However, Ben-Haim played just 13 Premier League games as back-up to John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho.
After falling out with Mourinho’s successor, Avram Grant, over a lack of playing time, Ben-Haim was fined £80,000 and later sold to Man City.
CENTRE-BACK – Papy Djilobodji

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Djilobodji never played in the Premier League for ChelseaCredit: PA:Press Association
AFTER five seasons at Nantes – and 171 league appearances – Chelsea signed Djilobodji for £3m in 2015.
However, despite arrival with a decent reputation, the Senegal star rotted on the bench – failing to play a single Premier League game.
Djilobodji spent just six months at Stamford Bridge before being loaned out to Werder Bremen in January 2016 with just one League Cup game against Walsall under his belt.
The centre-back joined Sunderland that summer, where he would spend just one season before heading back to France.
LEFT-BACK – Baba Rahman

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Rahman has played for Chelsea since 2015-16 but is still at the clubCredit: Reuters
ANOTHER 2015 buy, Rahman has enjoyed little more success than Djilobodji at Chelsea.
Still somehow on the club’s books, Rahman has only been at Stamford Bridge during his first season, in which he made 15 Premier League appearances.
Since then, he has spent three years on loan at Schalke, one year at Reims and one season at Mallorca.
Rahman – who cost Chelsea £21.7m – is yet to be loaned out this summer and is expected to be sold.
CENTRE-MID – Juan Sebastian Veron

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Veron played just seven times in four years at Chelsea in the leagueCredit: AP:Associated Press
IN 2001, Veron became the most-expensive player on the planet when he joined Manchester United for a £28.1m fee.
After two sub-par seasons, the Argentine legend – who starred at Lazio and Parma before heading to England – moved to Chelsea for half that fee.
He would play just seven times in the Premier League in FOUR seasons, in which he was joined back to Inter and then Estudiantes.
Veron joined the Argentine side – where he kicked off his career – permanently in 2007.
CENTRE-MID – Tiemoue Bakayoko

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Bakayoko is set to be sold this summer after two years away on loanCredit: Reuters
AFTER helping Monaco overthrow Paris Saint-Germain to become Ligue 1 champions, Chelsea splashed out to the tune of £40m to sign Bakayoko in 2017.
However, after 29 disappointing matches in his debut season, the Frenchman was shipped off on loan to AC Milan and then back to Monaco.
Bakayoko is now set to be sold this summer for half of the £40m Chelsea paid three years ago.
CENTRE-MID – Danny Drinkwater

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Drinkwater hasn’t been given a squad number for this seasonCredit: PA:Press Association
ANOTHER central midfielder signed after helping his side to a surprise league triumph, Chelsea brought in Drinkwater from Leicester in a £35m deal a year after the Foxes’ 2015-16 heroics.
Drinkwater had spent five impressive years at the King Power Stadium, making over 200 appearances in all competitions.
But the three-cap England midfielder has played just 12 times in the Premier League for the Blues in his three seasons at Stamford Bridge.
In that time he’s been loaned to Burnley and Aston Villa – where he made a combined five Premier League appearances.
Since 2019, Drinkwater’s life has been mired in controversy after being charged with drink-driving and involved in a nightclub brawl in Manchester which left him with ankle ligament damage.
Drinkwater has not been allocated a squad number for the 2020-21 season and is likely to be sold.

FORWARD – Andriy Shevchenko

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Shevchenko cost more than £30m and never replicated his top form in EnglandCredit: Getty Images – Getty
THE Ukrainian striker was an undoubted star at AC Milan earlier in his career.
So it’s little wonder the club paid £30.8m to sign him in 2005.
But Shevchenko scored just nine times in three years in the Premier League.
Chelsea even paid £190,000 a week for the luxury…
FORWARD – Fernando Torres

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Torres was a £50m panic buy from Chelsea and struggled mightilyCredit: Getty Images – Getty
THE Blues defined the term “panic buy” when they brought in Torres from Liverpool in January 2011.
Chelsea spent £50m on the former Reds star, who had spent months struggling for form and suffering from a spate of injuries.
In four years, the Spaniard scored just 20 Premier League goals in 110 games.
As well as costing £50m, the Blues were paying Torres £150,000 a week…
FORWARD – Alvaro Morata

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Morata found life at Chelsea tough and is now at Atletico MadridCredit: Reuters
HAVING starred at Juventus – and then Real Madrid – Chelsea splashed out £65m to sign Morata in 2017.
But it quickly became clear Morata was struggling to adapt to the Premier League, scoring just 16 times in 47 Premier League games.
Morata was loaned to Atletico Madrid last season, where he impressed another to make the move permanent this summer, becoming just the latest in a long line of big-money flops to be shown the door.

Most expensive flop XI in Premier League history – including Sanchez, Kepa and Torres More

FRANK LAMPARD is aiming to integrate his new Chelsea signings into the team as soon as possible – but is most excited to see his academy kids continue their development.
The Blues boss led his side – missing a few new faces – to a 3-1 win in their Premier League opener against Brighton.

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Lampard can’t wait to watch Mount kick on at Chelsea this seasonCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

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Lampard is keen to get all of his new signings into his first XI quicklyCredit: AFP or licensors

Now, in the build-up to their huge clash with champions Liverpool on Sunday, Lampard has set out his plans for his squad this season.
And above all else – despite the signing of Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell, Kai Havertz and Thiago Silva – Lampard can’t wait to watch protege Mason Mount continue his development.
When told Mount had recently admitted Lampard was his hero growing up, the Blues boss told Sure during an Instagram Live chat: “It’s a strange feeling, but it’s nice [to be idolised by Mount].
“One of the beauties of me coming back and getting this job was because I knew the academy well.

“I trained with a few of the lads like Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Andreas Christensen [as a player].
“Obviously Mason and Tammy [Abraham] were a bit younger than that – but I knew the players.
“When you have an academy that runs like Chelsea’s and they develop players like Mason, Tammy, Fikayo [Tomori] from the age of eight or nine, they have a real feeling for the club.
“I’m sure Tammy looked up to Didier Drogba, Fikayo would have looked up to John Terry… so it’s a nice feeling.”

On Mount, Lampard continued: “I love working with the young players here and it helps if Mason says those nice things about me, I like it.
“I just try to make him better and it’s easy when you have that feeling between you and we work hard on the training pitch.
“What he did last year was incredible and he’ll keep getting better.”
Despite continuing to focus on youth, as he was almost forced to following last summer’s transfer ban, Lampard is excited to get his new mega-money buys on the pitch.
The Chelsea chief said: “My plan is to integrate [the new signings] into the team as quickly as we can.
“I think we’ve made a few signings like this because we couldn’t really do it last year.
“So we asked, how can we improve the squad in what areas?
“My job now is to integrate them quickly.
“We brought some young players… Werner, Havertz and Ziyech, as well as Thiago Silva who is obviously very experienced.”

Timo Werner says picking Chelsea over Liverpool was right decision and Frank Lampard talks were key
But Lampard demanded patience from fans – saying it may take some time for them all to settle after Werner admitted he’d never come up against such big defenders before his Brighton bow.
The Stamford Bridge boss added: “The players played in different leagues in European football.
“The Premier League is very different in its physical nature and the speed of it.
“My job is to make them comfortable and get the best out of them as soon as I can.
“I’m confident we will do that, but we must be a little bit patient because sometimes even the greatest talents can take a little bit of time with the Premier League.
“I’ll support them through that time and hopefully we will see a lot of great things really soon.”
Elsewhere, Lampard is relishing the prospect of playing Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, despite losing both encounters in 2019-20.
The Blues did, however, win their FA Cup showdown and wants to show no fear hosting the champions on Sunday.

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Lampard masterminded Chelsea’s FA Cup win over Liverpool last seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Lampard claimed: “I am very excited. Liverpool were clearly the best team in the league last year, they won it by a long way.
“But every game we played against them we really competed well.
“We beat them in the FA Cup and lost pretty narrowly in both league games where we made a really good account of ourselves.
“I’m excited for us to see how the players match up against them and see where we’re at.
“We have some new players now, we are slightly short on fitness. I think our pre-season has been one of the hardest in the league.
“Liverpool have been training a couple weeks more than us, but what a great early opportunity to match up against them and see what we can do.
“We have to be confident, we can’t fear Liverpool, we respect them, but we will believe in ourselves.” More

CHELSEA will face 25 former stars in the 2020-21 season with only TWO Premier League rivals NOT featuring an ex-Stamford Bridge player.
The Stamford Bridge revolving door has twirled round and round in recent years – particularly since the 2003 arrival of Roman Abramovich.

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The best XI of former Chelsea players – and a manager – still in the Premier League

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There are currently 25 ex-Chelsea stars still in the Premier League at their rivals

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A host of former Chelsea players and bosses could now face their old club this term

As well as shipping hoards of talented youngsters out on loan, the Blues have never been shy of selling to rivals in a bid to fund their mega-money moves.
But that could now bite them on the behind with no fewer than 25 former players – and managers – currently at their league rivals.
Chelsea have already gone up against hotshot right-back Tariq Lamptey, now lighting up the league with Brighton.
The 19-year-old star terrorised Marcos Alonso all game, with the Spanish left-back relieved to see his side come away with a 3-1 win.

Next up are Liverpool, with superstar winger Mohamed Salah back at his old stomping ground, as well as former youth product Rhian Brewster.
And they’re merely the tip of the iceberg – with only Leicester and Wolves NOT having a former Chelsea player on their books.
Arsenal and Crystal Palace even have THREE former Blues.
The Gunners have Willian, David Luiz and ex-youth ace Eddie Nketiah on their books.

Meanwhile, Palace have Michy Batshuayi on loan for the season, as well as Patrick van Aanholt and Gary Cahill.
Then there’s stars such as Kevin De Bruyne, Juan Mata and Declan Rice – a target for Frank Lampard five years after he initially left.

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John Terry famously played in goal for Chelsea against Reading in 2006
You can even create a very strong-looking starting XI from the players still in the league, save for a goalkeeper.
We’ve turned to ex-Chelsea legend-turned-Aston Villa No2 John Terry – who famously played between the stick against Reading in 2006 after injuries to Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini earlier in the game.
There are even two former bosses in the league, with Jose Mourinho now at Tottenham and Carlo Ancelotti at Everton.

Of the 25 ex-Blues still in the top-flight, just two of them are loanees – Batshuayi at the Eagles and Ethan Ampadu, who’ll spend the season at Sheffield United.
And while Premier League rules won’t allow for those two to play against their parent club in the top-flight, they ARE able to take on Chelsea in other domestic competitions, such as the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
The question is, which of the 25 former players and managers could come back to haunt Chelsea this season?

Timo Werner’s gets into the swing of things in first week at Chelsea training More

CHELSEA boss Frank Lampard has THE best kind of ‘problem’ on his hands this season – he has too many quality players to shoehorn into his starting XI.
The Blues have signed a host of top quality players during this summer’s transfer window and many of these will be looking to become regular starters.

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Lampard must quickly figure out his best XI in an ever-growing squad of talented starsCredit: Getty

Ben Chilwell, Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech were all brought in to be first-teamers for the long haul.
But as we saw so often last season, Lampard likes to change formations and personnel depending on opposition and form, as well as giving certain players a breather.
There is no doubt every single player in Chelsea’s squad will become very important for Lampard this season.
That allows the boss the luxury of being able to field a number of different formations

We’ve taken a look at five of the most likely ahead of the season-opener against Brighton…
4-3-3

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How Chelsea could line-up with a 4-3-3 formation
Against weaker sides where Lampard will be playing against deep and congested defensive lines, I believe he will use the 4-3-3 with two No8s.
The situation surrounding the signing of a new goalkeeper is still up in the air, so Kepa Arrizabalaga is safe, for now.
The Spaniard will most-likely have Reece James, Kurt Zouma, Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell ahead of him when all are fit.

In midfield I would have N’Golo Kante as the sole holding midfielder, with two more-advanced midfielders pushing further forward.
Those two No8s will surely be with Mason Mount and Kai Havertz, with the German the tad most attack-minded of the duo.
Christian Pulisic on the left, Hakim Ziyech on the right and Timo Werner through the middle completes a strong looking Blues XI.
4-2-3-1

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How Chelsea could look in a 4-2-3-1 formation
Against the better sides, Chelsea will still look to play attacking football, but are likely to opt for two deeper holding midfielders.
Using the same back 4 as the 4-3-3, Kante will be accompanied by Mateo Kovacic in the double pivot.
Havertz then takes on a sole No10 role, with Pulisic, Ziyech and Werner in attack.
3-5-2

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How the Blues could line up in an attacking 3-5-2
A lot has been said about whether Werner can play the lone striker role in the Premier League.
I believe he can, but Chelsea do have the option of playing two strikers in a 3-5-2 formation.
For me, this would feature a back-three of Zouma on the left, Silva in the middle and Azpilicueta on the right.
Chilwell and James then provide the width as wing backs.
The midfield three could then consist of Kante in the defensive role, behind Havertz and Ziyech – both of whom have plenty of experience playing in that position.
Up top I would have Tammy Abraham alongside Werner.
3-4-3

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How Chelsea could start with an aggressive 3-4-3
This is a formation Lampard has played quite a lot as well and would allow for more attacking wide players.
I would use the same back three as the 3-5-2, but my midfield would consist of Kante and Kovacic in the central positions, with Callum Hudson-Odoi on the right and Pulisic on the left.
You could then use Havertz wide on the right, with Werner on the left, and Olivier Giroud as the target man.
This could provide the perfect balance of attack and defence, should the wide midfielders be disciplined with their defensive duties.

4-5-1

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How Chelsea could line-up if they park the bus with a 4-5-1
The final selection is the most-defensive setup, which I would not expect to see very often but can be useful if we are defending a lead against a strong attacking opponent.
James, Silva, Zouma and Chilwell remain the first-choice back-four – but Azpilicueta would start at right-back in this formation to allow James a more advanced role.
The five in midfield would feature Jorginho in the holding spot, Kante and Kovacic just ahead of him, with Mason Mount and James as the wide midfielders.
Giroud would get the nod up top as a target man outlet for the inevitable long balls that come with such a defensive line-up.

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard thinks that new signing Kai Havertz can play in any position More