Chelsea look listless with the Spanish striker but have renewed vigour with Didier Drogba leading the attack.
The immediate challenge, however, is merely for the current footballers to sustain their impact for a few more weeks. It ought to help that Chelsea have shed their distractions by, for the moment, bundling Torres out of the way. Without a goal the Spaniard becomes a vast distraction because of the huge transfer fee, £50m.