Liverpool vs Chelsea for season’s costliest flop

One cost £35 million and the other £50 million. Neither have justified the price tag. Neither have helped their team – Liverpool and Chelsea, respectively – decisively enough to ensure a top four finish, let alone win the league.

As the Barclays English Premier League heads into its final stretch – one thing is for sure, Andy Carroll and Fernando Torres are the only two competing for costliest flop of the season.

Torres right now leads, but only just.

Liverpool have the lowest conversion rate per chances created in the Premier League this season.

Most people blame Andy Carroll for that statistic, but the giant pony-tailed hitman seems to have turned a corner.

His performance against Manchester United in the FA Cup won over the Kop and on Monday night against Tottenham Hotspur he proved a handful for central defenders Michael Dawson and Ledley King.

Yet, if truth be told, he missed a relatively good chance, sending the ball over.

Carroll’s performance was also overshadowed by the return of Luis Suarez and the controversy he brings with him whenever he plays.

Torres makes Carroll look good at times.

Another stuttering performance at Stamford Bridge against defending champions United left analysts, commentators and fans bereft of any more patience.

Torres missed a golden opportunity to put the game beyond United with the score at 3-1 in favour of Chelsea.

When we say ‘missed’, we mean he did not even take the shot despite being seven yards out with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Football pundits had their knives out the next day and pronounced Nando finished, for all practical purposes.

This despite Torres, like Carroll against United, setting up Juan Mata for a goal with a perfect cross.

What will finally count for Carroll and Torres is the goals they score. And neither is scoring any right now.

Until they do – they will compete for the costliest flops of the season. Fans at Anfield and the Bridge will only worry how costly they will be in terms of the title race and the race to finish in the Top 4.