The end of what has been an incredibly poor World Cup will come as light relief for most tonight, but for me it will mark the start of the Torres and Gerrard transfer storm that intends to engulf the Red side of Merseyside for the next seven weeks. Events in South Africa have seen the journalists (if that is what they should be called) draw their attention away from the domestic scene, but on their return to England the big wooden spoons will be out in force stirring up trouble.

Why we are no strangers to negative press within the media, I do feel that over the passing years they have become destructive in their methods to unsettle and destabilise football clubs. Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres in particular are likely to be their main focus, as they look to build on their personal destruction of Rafa Benitez in the last 12 months.

I never understand their motivation in looking to drive the best players away from the Premier League, but like with Fabregas at Arsenal they clearly have no shame in doing their level best to fabricate stories and quotes in order to stir the mix. As this excellent article I read suggests ‘Torres is being forced out of Anfield’ and I have a genuine fear that they really real.

As a Liverpool fan I have always failed to understand why the club (who have always claimed that they have no intention of selling both Gerrard and Torres) fail to nip these rumours and speculation in the bud by insisting that both players conduct a press conference committing their futures to the club. For me that would be the logical option and one that will end all talk in one short statement. Unfortunately I doubt the club share my view here and instead they choose to turn their back therefore allowing the rumours to manifest themselves on a daily basis, until the transfer window eventually closes. It promises to be an uncomfortable next few weeks and I for one hope, that come September 1^st, we emerge unscathed.

Click on image below to see the Argentinean babes at the World Cup