stevie has continually showed he is world class,against man u -madrid,ac milan and internationally
He has played well in some big games but he has never won the games major honours on a regular basis so therefore cannot be classed as world class, was Mathew Le Tissier world class because he had as much talent and ability as Paul Gascoine but both never won a single major honour as in internationaly, league or Champions league. Liverpool's best player in the second champions league final with Milan was Jermain Pennant which says it all about playing well in big games, Gerrard was annonamous that night.
If Alan Shearer would of signed for United he would of won about five league titles and about two champions leagues he would of earned the same world class tag as Roy Keane or Ryan Giggs but instead he chose Newcastle United who never provided the platform his undoubted ability deserved and it's the same with Gerarrd if he signed for Chelsea or United in the last 5 seasons he would of had about 3 leagues and maybe one or two champions leagues by the age of 29 and would of rightly been regarded the best in the world alongside Henri at the time and players like Messi, Kaka and Ronaldo now.
Because he chose to stay at Liverpool and up to now with no leagues or any more champions leagues, from a career point of view looks to be a mistake and a bad move, ofcorse we are all as fans very happy he did but if he finishes his career with no more leagues or champions leagues I think he will see it as a big regret that he never moved when he had the chance.
I think Torres situation at Athletico is similar to what Gerrard is in now, that he was the figure head of the club and the clubs best player Torres knew that Athletico were never going to provide him with the platform to be the player people think he can be so he took the plunge and moved to a bigger club who would compete at a higher level than Athletico which was us, Torres knows that although Liverpool are a bigger club than Athletico we are not one of the giants of the game who regulary win the games top honours so therefore he will use us as a stepping stone to one of those clubs in the next two seasons when he is playing at his peak, thats the way top class footballers plan there careers so that they are in certain situations at certain times of there careers, Liverpool will have made him a better player for when he moves to a giant to fufill his destiny, he wont do it at us am afraid.