Fernando Torres admitted a spate of summer departures "messed everything up" for Liverpool FC.
The sale of midfielder Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid for a reported £30million has been widely criticised as Liverpool FC's difficult campaign has unfolded, with his £20million replacement Alberto Aquilani struggling for fitness all season to the frustration of manager Rafa Benitez.
Versatile Spain defender Alvaro Arbeloa joined Alonso in moving to the Bernabeu, while the experienced Sami Hyypia was allowed to join German side Bayer Leverkusen.
Liverpool FC were eliminated in the Champions League group stages for the first time in Benitez’s tenure and face an uphill task to return to the competition at all next season, lying as they do four points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City having played a game more.
And a shock 2-1 FA Cup third-round replay defeat to Reading at Anfield left the Europa League - a consolation after their Champions League exit - their only remaining chance of a trophy. However, to progress in that they must overturn a 2-1 deficit to Benfica in Thursday’s quarter-final second leg.
Liverpool FC striker Torres said: "There have been various important factors, like being so far behind the top teams so quickly. That killed us psychologically.
"After that, injuries hit us hard and we have suffered a lot because of them.
"But after a good season last year, we needed certain reinforcements and we needed to keep the squad we had together. But circumstances dictated that we had to sell players and so everything got messed up.
"The sales of Arbeloa, Hyypia and Alonso were important losses.
"Alvaro always did a vital job for us, always played to a high level, and his flexibility was a huge bonus.
"Sami did not play every week but he was a 10 out of 10 on and off the pitch.
"And Xabi? Players like him are very rare. He was the team’s engine, and you know that when you change an engine, it takes time to work again."
The sale of midfielder Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid for a reported £30million has been widely criticised as Liverpool FC's difficult campaign has unfolded, with his £20million replacement Alberto Aquilani struggling for fitness all season to the frustration of manager Rafa Benitez.
Versatile Spain defender Alvaro Arbeloa joined Alonso in moving to the Bernabeu, while the experienced Sami Hyypia was allowed to join German side Bayer Leverkusen.
Liverpool FC were eliminated in the Champions League group stages for the first time in Benitez’s tenure and face an uphill task to return to the competition at all next season, lying as they do four points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City having played a game more.
And a shock 2-1 FA Cup third-round replay defeat to Reading at Anfield left the Europa League - a consolation after their Champions League exit - their only remaining chance of a trophy. However, to progress in that they must overturn a 2-1 deficit to Benfica in Thursday’s quarter-final second leg.
Liverpool FC striker Torres said: "There have been various important factors, like being so far behind the top teams so quickly. That killed us psychologically.
"After that, injuries hit us hard and we have suffered a lot because of them.
"But after a good season last year, we needed certain reinforcements and we needed to keep the squad we had together. But circumstances dictated that we had to sell players and so everything got messed up.
"The sales of Arbeloa, Hyypia and Alonso were important losses.
"Alvaro always did a vital job for us, always played to a high level, and his flexibility was a huge bonus.
"Sami did not play every week but he was a 10 out of 10 on and off the pitch.
"And Xabi? Players like him are very rare. He was the team’s engine, and you know that when you change an engine, it takes time to work again."
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