Liverpool FC: Is Something Wrong With Liverpool's Fernando Torres?

Liverpool star Fernando Torres has suffered a well publicised dip in form in recent times. After a forgettable World Cup, which many put down to a lack of match practice and hangover from an injury late in the Premier League season, Torres will have been hoping to get the new season off to a flyer. 

Unfortunately, things haven't gone to plan. With just one league goal so far, Torres has been far from impressive.

So why isn't Torres firing?

In the recent Birmingham match, Torres failed to impress. He still doesn't look fit, the many injuries he's suffered, including the groin injury he sustained in the World Cup final seem to have taken their toll.

Torres wasn't helped by the lack of service from his midfield against Birmingham. He had few chances and was largely inactive. When he was involved though, he messed up. Torres should have squared the ball to Gerrard late on, but he instead chose to shoot from a tight angle, a shot easily turned away by Ben Foster.Torres also completely skewed a shot from a Glenn Johnson cross when he should have done better.

Torres hasn't been helped by a Liverpool team that has had a poor start to the season. Liverpool have managed just two goals so far, one of which has come through Torres. Liverpool's lack of goals can't be blamed on Torres though, they simply haven't looked like scoring many goals.

Birmingham's defence pressured Fernando Torres and gave him no time on the ball, a tactic other teams would do well to copy if they want to keep Torres under wraps. Torres, who is short of match practice, needs time on the field and on the ball. If teams don't let him have the ball and keep him from making runs, he is going to struggle to regain his form.

Roy Hodgson says he isn't worried about Torres's form saying that he is still short of match fitness. Hodgson is right, Torres isn't yet at 100%, but he hasn't looked at all like his old self. There were barely any of the Torres runs that take him behind the defence, leaving everyone for dead, and there wasn't the same effort we're used to from Torres when it came to hassling.

This time last year, Torres had three goals, had taken more shoots, gone on more runs and completed more passes. Obviously he has played less this season, but his shot to goal ratio is half of what it was last season, and his pass completion rate is also far lower. When the basics like passing start to go wrong, people are bound to wonder whether all is right with Liverpool's number nine.

The fact that he's come up against some good defending, and hasn't yet reached full fitness make me think that Torres simply needs time. A few more matches should help Torres put any worries about injury behind him, and he should be back to his old self.

Besides, next week Liverpool are playing United, a match that will pit Torres against Vidic. Vidic seems to have psyched himself out when it comes to Torres, so I guess things are starting to look up for the Spaniard.