Liverpool Striker Fernando Torres Set For Fresh Lay-Off

Fernando Torres is unlikely to figure at The Riverside as he struggles with an ankle injury but Steven Gerrard may earn a start after a hamstring problem.

The Spanish striker was substituted after 61 minutes of Liverpool's win at Real Madrid on Wednesday, while Gerrard came on in the closing moments.

"We don't know how bad it is yet," boss Rafael Benitez said of Torres's injury. "He will probably miss some games.

"We have a game in three days' time, it will be difficult for him to be ready."

Benitez explained his decision to bring on Gerrard for only the final few minutes in Madrid.

"Clearly Stevie needed to do a special warm-up in the dressing room with the physios," added the Spaniard.

"Afterwards he was doing the normal warm-up with the other players. He needed to do something special beforehand but still he was not fully fit.

"We knew it could be a problem so, after talking with the doctor and the player, it was decided he could play maybe a few minutes at the end."

hmm nice but i think he`ll recover.