Torres and Gerrard want to stay at Liverpool, Mascherano not so much

One of the most persistent rumors since Liverpool crapped out last season in the EPL and failed to qualify for the Champions League was that they would have a massive overhaul.

For now, I'm happy to say that Fernando Torres was quoted as saying he's happy to be "stay at the best club in the world." The Spanish striker was back at training after winning the 2010 World Cup with Spain and he said all the right things.

"My commitment and loyalty to the club and to the fans is the same as it was on my first day when I signed. I am looking forward to the challenge ahead," Torres said. "I am really happy to be back, really happy to stay with all my team-mates.

"This is the best club in the country so the targets and expectations are always high. At Liverpool the aim is to fight for every title. It was difficult last season, but we are sure we can improve this season."

New Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson always maintained that he wanted to keep the Reds' record-signing at the club and Torres said he was impressed to have been paid a personal visit.

"I really appreciated the fact that Roy came out to see me while I was on my holidays," Torres said. "He told me about his plans for the club and what he wanted from me and I appreciated that.

"I hope he will be the right man to reach the targets of Liverpool Football Club and I am really looking forward to working with him. At the moment I am training just on my own but as soon as I can I will train with the team and with the new manager."

Coach Rafael Benitez left after last season but his time was up anyways and that was expected. Hodgson has replaced him (from Fulham) and he also has captain Steven Gerrard back in the fold after Captain Fantastic pledged his commitment to Liverpool after the World Cup with England.

The only player looking to get out of Anfield is midfielder Javier Mascherano, who wants to get back with Benitez at Inter Milan. However, Hodgson won't let the Argentine leave without receiving around 25 million pounds in return.

Benitez done in Liverpool but he'll never walk alone

Shimer has been hinting at some big shakeups in Liverpool since they finished seventh in the EPL and missed out on the next Champions League. This was one year after finishing second behind Manchester United.

The first domino to fall was coach Rafael Benitez, who bid adieu to Liverpool today by mutual consent.

Rafael Benitez told the club's official website: "It is very sad for me to announce that I will no longer be manager of Liverpool FC. I would like to thank all of the staff and players for their efforts.

"I'll always keep in my heart the good times I've had here, the strong and loyal support of the fans in the tough times and the love from Liverpool. I have no words to thank you enough for all these years and I am very proud to say that I was your manager.

"Thank you so much once more and always remember: You'll never walk alone."

For us, more intriguing than Benitez leaving is what will happen to stars Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres? The club will lose a ridiculous amount of money so it's been floated out there that they could be sold off to balance the books.

Benitez, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005 and also reached the final 2007, is now the odds-on favorite to take over at Inter Milan following Jose Mourinho's exit for Real Madrid and Capello's decision to stay with England.

"We really like Rafa Benitez and he is in our favour since the Champions League final in Istanbul [when Liverpool beat rivals AC Milan in 2005]," Inter director Gabriele Oriali told Corriere dello Sport.

So don't feel too bad for Benitez, he has the Champions League title from 2005 in his backpocket, one of the greatest matches in soccer history and it looks like he'll be going to Inter Milan next.

Like any other pro sport, the coaching fraternity in soccer is a tight one and that's why the same coaches keep getting vacant jobs. That's not to say that Benitez doesn't deserve another high-profile job, he does, it was just time to go in another direction for Liverpool.