Liverpool FC: If Fernando Torres Walks, Swap for Luis Suarez

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray that Fernando Torres Liverpool will keep. But if El Nino leaves for the Champions League before I wake; I pray with the money Luis Suarez we will take.

Unless you have been under a rock since the close of last season, everyone is trying to steal players from the uncertainty behind the gates at Anfield Road. The clubs with the financial muscle are after Liverpool's prized striker Fernando Torres. Although preliminary reports on a move for Torres had the price as ridiculously high as £100m falling to a more recent assessment of £50m, Torres's injury will probably bring down the offering price even further.

"We are working very hard on making certain the players we have at the club who you would call the 'good players' are going to be with us for next season," Hodgson said.

New Liverpool Boss Roy Hodgson is fighting to keep Liverpool's most influential players in the Reds jersey. Keeping Torres is a no brainer; scoring 18 goals in 22 appearances shows how lethal he is when in the game and healthy. The ability to keep him at Liverpool depends on Torres' own desires on how he chooses to define his career. Will he stick with the team that has brought him the EPL or leave the supporters songs for another's pitch. Will he head back to Spain to play with his compatriots at Barcelona or dare walk across enemy lines to more financial stability at Chelsea or either Manchester.

Torres refused to answer any question regarding his future at Liverpool until the conclusion of Spain's conquest of this year's World Cup. Photos of him holding the World Cup with a Liverpool supporters scarf have helped ease the speculation that El Nino was walking on for Champions League glory. However there has been no pledge to stay by Torres, nor a formal transfer request submitted.

A healthy Torres is hands down one of the deadliest strikers in the game. He is in his prime and trophy hungry. You cannot argue that he longs to display his dominance on the highest level of competition. If he stays with Liverpool, he will have to wait and hope they qualify next season. If the big money clubs come a knocking promising Champions League glory this season, that is something Liverpool cannot offer the striker. With Real Madrid now backing off their pursuit of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, Hodgson looks to Torres' decision to keep the engine in the team together.

Now that the World Cup is over, will Torres stick with the team or hand in a formal transfer request?

Can you blame him if he leaves with Liverpool barely landing in the top seven last year?

If Torres does decide to take the money and run, what ever the fee Liverpool will have a pretty penny to add to the £40m (with Mascherano and Reira sales pending) kitty Hodgson was already given to rebuild Liverpool. While the loss of Torres would be a swift kick to the groin to LFC and their supporters, a reinvestment of that money into Ajax and Uruguay striker Luis Suarez would help soften the blow. Ajax has set a £25m price tag on the World Cup star. The owner of the new 'Hand of God' would be a suitable replacement to help Liverpool climb up the ladder back to Champions League qualification if Torres turns his back on helping revive Liverpool.

At £25m, if Liverpool are forced to cash in on Torres, there would be change left over to invest in some of the other holes in the midfield and defense. Hodgson has already hinted at a move for Ashley Young. With more money in the kitty perhaps reaches for players such as Bastian Schweinsteiger, Rafael van der Vart, Clint Dempsey, Shaun Wright-Philips, Peter Crouch or Gervinho may come to fruition.

If given the choice between keeping Torres and buying Suarez, keeping Torres is the answer. No contest. Sadly, Liverpool does not have the choice between the two when it all boils down to it. Torres has the choice. Either he chooses to stay and fight at Anfield; or he aligns himself with the enemy and Liverpool finds the new focal point to their attack.