Fernando Torres
Chelsea's Fernando Torres reacts during the first leg of their Champions League quarter final match against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in London. REUTERS

Liverpool legend Phil Thompson has lambasted Chelsea striker Fernando Torres' performance during the 2-1 victory at Molineux at the weekend.

Torres, who left Liverpool to join their Premier League rivals Chelsea in January last year for a British record £50 million fee, has in recent weeks shown fleeting signs of a possible return to form, yet the aforementioned former Anfield stalwart suggests the Spaniard was hugely underwhelming for Andre Villas-Boas' side on Monday.

Thompson, who won seven league titles for Liverpool, claims the aforementioned Chelsea striker continues to look anything but a £50 million footballer on current form.

Didier Drogba was absent from the Chelsea squad that played Wolves on Monday due to injury, and Thompson believes the Ivorian still remains a better alternative to the former Liverpool striker on current form.

The Liverpool hero told Soccer Special: "He's (Chelsea's Fernando Torres) not anywhere near. There's a lack of confidence and a lack of pace.

"Thinking back to the Manchester United game it looked like he was back to dragging the ball by people, but he had a couple of opportunities today and it's just not there I'm afraid. Really poor.

"You wonder whether he's the answer or Drogba. He was ahead of Drogba today, who wasn't even on the bench and you're wondering who is going to be the one." The Liverpool icon and club's former assistant manager continued. "This, to me, was not good enough from a £50million player. Is he going to be staying at Chelsea? I would have to say yes, but he was poor nonetheless."

Torres recently suggested his acrimonious departure from Liverpool last January remains relatively misunderstood by fans, intimating his move to Chelsea was brought about because of broken promises by the club's owners.