Former Liverpool star Fernando Torres has been backed to take charge of his old club in the future
Fernando Torres has been tipped as a future Liverpool manager following his impressive work as a coach at Atletico Madrid. The 42-year-old enjoyed a hugely successful stint with the Reds during his playing career and has been backed to make a return to Anfield in a different capacity.
Liverpool have struggled through a difficult second campaign under Arne Slot, with the reigning Premier League champions now focusing on securing Champions League qualification. While the manager has faced criticism this season, the club are not expected to sack Slot, whose contract runs until 2027.
Torres retired from playing in 2019 and took up a coaching role with Atletico’s U19 side two years later. He briefly shadowed Jurgen Klopp during the German’s final year at the Reds, several months before taking charge of Atletico B. Torres’ former Spain team-mate Fernando Llorente has argued it is a question of when, not if, he lands the Liverpool job.
“Fernando Torres as Liverpool manager one day? Definitely,” he told Hajper. “He’s taken a different path to [Como manager] Cesc Fabregas, he has been patient and has preferred to start little by little with the youth team, gaining experience.
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“I think Fernando will become a great coach because he had an incredible career, knows a lot about football and has surely been preparing for the right moment to make the jump.”
READ MORE: Jamie Carragher shares what he has heard about Arne Slot’s Liverpool futureThe 42-year-old has demonstrated considerable tactical versatility by employing a range of formations during his early years in management, including a fluid 5-3-2 system. This season, Torres has predominantly opted for a 4-2-3-1 shape. Here is how Liverpool’s squad could set up under the Reds legend.
Alisson Becker looks set to remain first-choice goalkeeper next season, despite Giorgi Mamardashvili stepping in for the Brazilian on several occasions. The Reds exercised their option to extend the shot-stopper’s contract by a further year last month.
At the back, Jeremy Jacquet will head to Anfield having agreed his lucrative transfer from Rennes in the January window. Given his experience of coaching young players, Torres would relish the opportunity to work alongside the gifted 20-year-old. Jacquet’s arrival could limit Virgil van Dijk’s playing time, potentially leading Ibrahima Konate to pair up with his fellow Frenchman, who is currently negotiating a new deal.
Milos Kerkez is poised to make the left-back berth his own as Andy Robertson prepares to leave this summer. Meanwhile, Jeremie Frimpong will be eager to win the battle for the right-back position as Connor Bradley continues his recovery from injury.
Looking at the midfield, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister haven’t quite hit the levels they showed last term, yet the partnership formed the foundation of Liverpool’s title-winning side under Slot. Torres would be banking on the pair rediscovering their form while offering support for Florian Wirtz, who would enjoy the freedom to operate as a number 10.
Mohamed Salah is set to say goodbye to the Reds in the summer. Securing a direct replacement for Salah would be near impossible and deploying Dominik Szoboszlai on the right wing would enable one of the squad’s most impressive performers to swap positions with Wirtz going forward, while offering protection for Frimpong out wide.
On the left flank, Torres could promote Rio Ngumoha to regular first-team action following his emergence this campaign. Alexander Isak is poised to spearhead Liverpool’s attack at the beginning of next season, allowing the ex-Newcastle United striker to demonstrate his quality after Hugo Ekitike’s injury setback. However, Torres could revert to his previous 5-3-2 system once both forwards are available.
Liverpool XI under Torres (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Jacquet, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Ngumoha; Isak.
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