Chelsea vs. Liverpool: Why It's the Biggest Game of Fernando Torres' Career

Fernando Torres faces one of the biggest moments of his career on Sunday.

As long as he is in the Premier League, he will be watched like a hawk in every game.

His unceremonious switch from Liverpool to Chelsea has helped cause an even bigger rift between the two clubs. Thanks to his transfer, any meeting between the two is an even bigger affair and that will be the case again in this pivotal Premier League game at Stamford Bridge.

If Torres wants to get the critics off his back, this weekend would be a very good time to do it.

Here are a few reason why Sunday's game against Liverpool is the biggest game of his career.

Justify His Move

Fernando Torres recently came out saying that the Liverpool fans were unaware of the real reason for his departure.

Of course, one can always speculate money or the hope for greener pastures as being two such reasons, but I am guessing Torres would not.

Chelsea is fourth in the league and Liverpool is three points behind in sixth. Torres needs to help his team win the big games like this and not just for his own personal vindication. If more silverware is what the Spanish forward wants, he has to play a big part in achieving it.

Justify His Price Tag

This one may be a bit similar to justifying his move, but it isn't. Torres left because of whatever personal beef he had with Liverpool at the time. His price tag is another thing altogether.

You could say Roman Abramovich paid for him to try and steal a major piece away from a major competitor without caring about his production. That's not Abramovich's style.

Torres was brought in to help Chelsea win titles and he has shown no signs of doing that so far. Since arriving at Chelsea, Torres has only produced three goals and two assists in 21 games in the Premier League. That is not what is expected from someone who cost £50 million.

Torres has not been at his consistent best—though he has shown flashes—and it needs to start somewhere.

Repay the Faith

When a player comes to a club as Fernando Torres did to Chelsea, a lot will be expected. While there has been no shortage of doubters, critics and people reveling in Torres' current plight, there are those who hope for the best.

Roman Abramovich's silence could be taken as his willingness to be patient, though it is more likely that he isn't. Torres' new manager Andre Villas-Boas has praised the star on occasion, and Torres himself knows that he must give the Chelsea fans something to smile about.

This game would be a perfect time to do just that.

Stabilise His Legacy

Darren Bent recently claimed that Torres was still the best. Does anyone really believe that is still the case? In fact, it is his replacement Luis Suarez who has received a lot of accolades since plying his trade in England.

Torres is inevitably mentioned—or thought of—most times when Suarez comes good, and it will remain that way as long as the two remain in their current situations. It should be Suarez being mentioned when Torres is lighting things up and not the other way around.

Torres needs to get back to being "El Nino" before he fades away and his time at Chelsea is finished.