
Football
Share
Published 13:26 19 Oct 2018 BST
Explore more on these topics:
"Actually, this is slightly inaccurate. Sanchez has not been the same player for longer than that. The more I watch him in a Manchester United shirt, the more convinced I am his poor final year at Arsenal was not due to a declining team or loss of motivation as he prepared to leave.
"Sanchez's best years have gone. He is to Manchester United what Fernando Torres was to Chelsea."Sanchez looks a completely different player to the force who, when representing Barcelona and Arsenal, would give defenders nightmares. And perhaps Carragher's comparison to Torres' departure from Liverpool is right on the money. "I witnessed this with Torres, a player who rose to world-class status but then lost his explosive pace and could never get it back," Carragher continued.
"When Chelsea bid £50m for Torres in January 2011 there was consternation among Liverpool supporters.
"Although we could never state it publicly at the time, there was general astonishment in our dressing room. We thought Chelsea had not been watching him for the previous 12 months.
"We knew Chelsea did not sign the player they thought. They bought a striker who – aged 26 - had already played 468 games, had not had a summer off for the previous three years and was constantly trying to repair his body.
"Torres started to have a hamstring problem during the 2008-09 season, and also suffered an ankle injury the year we finished runners-up to Manchester United. The following season – Rafa Benitez’s last as Liverpool manager – he had a groin and knee issue and was a shadow of himself, despite still regularly scoring goals.
"Beyond Merseyside no-one seemed to notice, attributing poor displays to a struggling team. In training we could see there was more to it."
Quiz: Can you name every Brazilian player to play for Manchester United
For the day that’s in it! With Matheus Cunha scoring an absolute screamer to beat Arsenal in the Premier League, we have a very special quiz to honour the man. See how big a Man United fan you are and if you can name every Brazilian player to play for the legendary club. Good luck! […]
Football
1h
Man City threaten legal action after Real Madrid Erling Haaland transfer claim
The club have seen enough Manchester City have threatened legal action after a Real Madrid presidential candidate claimed that he could bring Erling Haaland to the club. As part of his president campaign, he stated on Spanish TV that the Norwegian striker had a release clause and wants to join the Spanish giants. Though the […]
Football
1 day ago
Football
Liverpool agree deal for Andoni Iraola
Football