Liverpool have turned down a transfer request from Fernando Torres, the English Premier League club said Saturday, following an audacious bid from Chelsea for the Spain striker.

“Fernando Torres tonight submitted a written transfer request, which has been rejected by Liverpool,” Liverpool said in a statement on its website.

“Fernando is under a long-term contract and the Club expects him to honour the commitment he made to Liverpool FC and its supporters when he signed the agreement.”

Torres, 26, is under contract at Liverpool until 2013. However he is widely reported to have a buy-out clause in his deal which will allow him to leave if another team matches his £50 million valuation.

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The Reds have rejected a £25 million bid from Chelsea for striker Fernando Torres ahead of the January transfer window closing on Monday.

Chelsea is in need of a new forward to help its faltering title defense after slipping from top to fourth in the standings, 10 points behind leader Manchester United.

“Chelsea have made an offer for Fernando which has been rejected,” Liverpool announced late on Thursday. “The player is not for sale.”

Liverpool’s American owner John Henry is not prepared to let his top player leave, with the team showing signs of a recovery since Kenny Dalglish returned to the manager’s job at the start of the month.

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Chelsea ended their miserable away form by beating Bolton Wanderers 0 – 4 last night at the Reebok Stadium. Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, Nicolas Anelka and Ramires were all target for the Blues.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side had fallen away from contention for the title with a record of one win in nine matches but they have now won their past eight matches at the Reebok Stadium without conceding a goal.

Victory moved them up to fourth and to within seven points of leaders Manchester United, who travel to Blackpool on Tuesday which continued the poor run of Owen Coyle’s side, who have now suffered four defeats in their last five matches in a damaging run of form and are just eight points above the bottom three.

Drogba gave Chelsea an early lead with his 10th of the season and Frenchman Malouda equalled that tally with a second goal just before half time.

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South Africa’s Steven Pienaar rejected a Chelsea offer and joined Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday.

“We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Everton and Steven Pienaar for the player’s transfer to the club,” Tottenham said in a statement on their website (www.tottenhamhotspur.com).

The 28-year-old had also negotiated with Premier League champions Chelsea about a move to Stamford Bridge, but Spurs boss Harry Redknapp confirmed he had chosen to move to White Hart Lane.

“He had talks with Chelsea and he had talks with us and he has decided to come to us,” Redknapp told Sky Sports News.

Pienaar joined Everton from German side Borussia Dortmund in 2007, initially on loan, before making the move permanent a year later.

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Everton manager David Moyes confirmed that they accepted Chelsea’s offer for Bafana forward Steven Pienaar.

Speaking after Everton’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Anfield, Moyes said the club had granted permission for Pienaar’s representatives to enter into talks with Chelsea, but had rebuffed a bid from Tottenham.

“We have accepted an offer from Chelsea. Steven has not agreed terms with Chelsea,” Moyes said. “We’ve given his representatives a chance to talk to Chelsea, but they’ve not got permission to talk to Tottenham because they’ve not offered the same money.”

The likely departure of Pienaar is a blow to Everton, but with the player out of contract at the end of the season, the Toffees had little choice but to cash in during the January window.

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Chelsea missed their chance to go top of the English Premier League table when Didier Drogba missed a late penalty which meant the London derby against Tottenham  ended in a 1 – 1 draw.

Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, who’d let substitute Drogba’s shot go through his hands for Chelsea’s 70th-minute equaliser, brought down Ramires in stoppage time.

But the Brazilian then produced a fine save to deny Drogba, who took the spot-kick even though fellow substitute and regular penalty-taker Frank Lampard was on the field.

Had the penalty gone in and Chelsea won, the Blues would have gone top.

Instead they stayed fourth, level on points with Manchester United who clash with leaders Arsenal at Old Trafford on Monday.

Tottenham opened the scoring in the 15th minute when the unchallenged Roman Pavlyuchenko struck from inside the box after a pass from Jermain Defoe.

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Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti denied rumours that he is thinking of quitting the Premier League club.

Speculation over the Italian’s future at Stamford Bridge intensified after a third defeat in four games on Saturday.

The Blues lost 1-0 at Birmingham, and afterwards Ancelotti admitted he was not in total control at Chelsea.

But speaking before Tuesday’s Champions League game against MSK Zilina, he said: “These rumours are untrue. I’ve no idea where they’ve come from.”

Reports on Monday also suggested that Ancelotti, who took over as Chelsea boss in June 2009 and has one and-a-half years remaining on his current contract, had consulted the League Managers’ Association about his position.

However, he cleared that matter up by saying: “I didn’t call the LMA. They called me last night [Sunday] when I was relaxing at home, just to find out what was going on.

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