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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Kenny Dalglish still haven’t been able to deliver in his new job as Blackpool beat Liverpool 2-1 at Bloomfield Road on Wednesday to complete a remarkable Premier League double over the 18-times champions.

The victory lifted Blackpool to ninth with 28 points while Liverpool, who brought in interim appointment Dalglish on Saturday to replace Roy Hodgson, are 13th on 25 after their eighth defeat in 11 away games.

Having seen Liverpool fall behind within two minutes of his first game in charge as they lost 1-0 to Manchester United in the FA Cup on Sunday, Dalglish had the opposite experience as he was on his feet cheering three minutes into Wednesday’s game.

The impressive Martin Kelly slipped a pass into the path of Fernando Torres and the Spaniard looked just like his old self as he lashed in a shot from a tight angle.

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Fernando Torres fired on all cylinders to see Chelsea slump to their second defeat of the season and lose 2 – 0 to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

The Spaniard was back to his predatory best with two well-taken goals in the first half, inspiring Liverpool to their third successive league win following their dismal start to the season.

Arsenal failed to take advantage of the leaders’ slip, however, as they were beaten 1-0 at home by Newcastle United courtesy of Andy Carroll’s header late in the first half.

Manchester City did gain ground with Italian striker Mario Balotelli scoring both goals in a comfortable 2-0 win at West Bromwich Albion before being sent off in the second half.

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Fernando Torres scored the winning goal as Liverpool beat Blackburn Rovers 2 – 1 at Anfield on sunday.

The 26-year-old’s winner was his first goal since the win over West Brom on August 29.

It came at the end of a crazy five minutes in which Sotirios Kyrgiakos had given the Reds a lead only to see it cancelled out by a Jamie Carragher own goal.

Roy Hodgson made seven changes from the side that earned a creditable draw in Napoli on Thursday, with rested stars such as Steven Gerrard, Raul Meireles and Torres back on the teamsheet.

They helped Liverpool make a lively start, with the hosts almost earning a lead with eight minutes on the clock when Torres split open Blackburn’s defence with an angled ball to Maxi Rodriguez. (more…)

Spain and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres’ surname and no. 9 jersey was the most popular to feature on replica Premiership shirts printed worldwide last season.

It is the second successive season the Spaniard has been top, while Anfield team-mate Steven Gerrard was second in the top 10 list compiled by SportingiD.

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney moved up one place to third.

Figures are based on the number of official club shirts sold domestically and internationally.

Arsenal duo Cesc Fabregas and Andrey Arshavin were fourth and fifth, followed by Chelsea pair Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.

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Fernando Torres is glad to be back at Liverpool after his World Cup-winning summer with Spain, dismissing suggestions that he was seeking a transfer in a bid to find Champions League football.

“I am really happy to be back, really happy to stay with all my team mates. My commitment and loyalty to the club and to the fans is the same as it was on my first day when I signed,” the striker told the club’s website (www.liverpoolfc.tv) after his first training session.

“I felt at home from the first day (I signed). I feel the fans love me and everyone knows I am really happy here and really happy to play at Anfield.

With Roy Hodgson taking over as manager from Rafa Benitez and the club in the middle of takeover talks, Torres said he is focused entirely on bringing trophies to Anfield.

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