Horne expects mind games from Liverpool over Fernando Torres

Oct 19 2007 by Gareth Bicknell, Liverpool Daily Post

FORMER Everton midfielder Barry Horne reckons Liverpool might be indulging in some mind games when it comes to Fernando Torres’s fitness for tomorrow’s derby.

The ex-Wales international fully expects the £18million striker to feature at Goodison Park despite Rafael Benitez supposedly sweating over the player’s fitness following an injury picked up with the Spanish squad a week ago.

Horne said: "I think there’s a little bit of kidology going on around Fernando Torres and his battle for fitness after a muscle strain. I suspect it’s mind games it’s not hard to see how big a psychological boost the return of a player like Torres would be to any team and their fans.

“I think Liverpool are going to pull something out at the 11th hour there, but I’m sure David Moyes is planning for facing a team that will include Torres.”

Horne reckons that Benitez will be determined to have his big names available for derby after supposedly underestimating Everton last season when Liverpool were beaten 3-0 at Goodison.

He said: “There’s no doubt there’s potentially a glittering array of talent in that squad, and I think Rafael Benitez will play his strongest team tomorrow.

“I think the Liverpool players will appreciate that, and as a result I think it will be a very different game from Everton’s 3-0 win at Goodison last season.

“For me, Benitez made a huge mistake last season in underestimating Everton and underestimating the importance of the derby to fans – even in this day and age when, at the top level of domestic football, the Champions League and Premiership are considered to be the priorities.

“Derbies remain significant for the fans, and for me none more so than the great northern derbies in places like Merseyside, Manchester and Glasgow which are up there with the greatest club matches in the world.”

Horne hopes that home advantage will ultimately count for his former club who have endured a mixed start to the season.

He said: “Everton are perceived to have had a good start to the season but they have slipped to 10th in the table.

“However, they’re a very difficult team to beat at Goodison, despite our patchy form of late. There are very few places as intimidating as Goodison, and Liverpool have shown they’re not great away from Anfield.”