Torres has got a hamstring tear
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:30 amLiverpool FC's Fernando Torres suffers hamstring tear
Sep 1 2008 by Nick Smith, Daily Post
FERNANDO TORRES is set to miss Liverpool’s meeting with Manchester United after he suffered a hamstring tear at Villa Park yesterday.
The Spanish striker, who sustained the injury after half an hour of the goalless draw with Aston Villa, will undergo a scan to assess the extent of the damage today.
But with Gerrard already doubtful for the Premier League clash at Anfield on September 13 following two groin operations, Rafael Benitez’s plans for the game have been thrown into chaos.
The Liverpool manager does expect Albert Riera to complete his £9m move form Espanyol today and refused to rule out further signings in the final few hours of
the transfer window.
But with Gerrard and Torres now out of their country’s World Cup qualifiers while they begin their recuperation, Benitez is hoping that, if they do miss the United game, they can regain fitness for the opening Champions League group game in Marseille the following Tuesday.
“We will have to wait and see what the scan says, and then wait and see over the next seven, 10 days,” said Benitez.
“It is a positive thing that we have this international break now.”
Liverpool turned in another disappointing attacking display at Villa, creating only a handful of chances.
But with returning Olympic medallists Javier Mascherano and Lucas back in midfield, plus a solid defensive performance, Benitez did take some positives from the game.
He said: “I think it was a tough game but we could have won it and we also could have lost it, so at the end of the day a point is good for both teams.
“Clearly when you are without Gerrard and after you lose Torres it is always a problem but the team was always working hard and it's a credit to the players.
“It was a pity today because we could have won the game so it could have been better but it's not bad to get a point here.
“We could see that Mascherano and Lucas are fantastic players with a very good mentality after returning from the Olympic Games. That's the positive thing for us.”
Benitez also backed Robbie Keane as his wait for his first Liverpool goal continued.
After being through on goal, a challenge from Nigel Reo-Coker seemed to prevent the Irishman getting in a clean strike, but claims for a penalty were turned down by Martin Atkinson.
Keane was then substituted in place for Yossi Benayoun in the closing stages of the game but Benitez said: “Robbie was working really hard. I was trying to use another player with fresh legs like Yossi for the final 15 minutes.
“Robbie did a very good job for the team. He started the game on the left side in the first half and then I put him through the middle as a second striker. He was always working well for the team and trying to make things happen for us.”
Meanwhile, Espanyol are delaying Riera’s move as they ponder making Anfield outcast Steve Finnan part of the deal.
The 32-year-old right-back has not figured in any of Benitez’s squads so far and is free to find a new club before the close of today, as are Jermaine Pennant and Andriy Vorornin.
FFS the footballing gods are not being kind to us.
Sep 1 2008 by Nick Smith, Daily Post
FERNANDO TORRES is set to miss Liverpool’s meeting with Manchester United after he suffered a hamstring tear at Villa Park yesterday.
The Spanish striker, who sustained the injury after half an hour of the goalless draw with Aston Villa, will undergo a scan to assess the extent of the damage today.
But with Gerrard already doubtful for the Premier League clash at Anfield on September 13 following two groin operations, Rafael Benitez’s plans for the game have been thrown into chaos.
The Liverpool manager does expect Albert Riera to complete his £9m move form Espanyol today and refused to rule out further signings in the final few hours of
the transfer window.
But with Gerrard and Torres now out of their country’s World Cup qualifiers while they begin their recuperation, Benitez is hoping that, if they do miss the United game, they can regain fitness for the opening Champions League group game in Marseille the following Tuesday.
“We will have to wait and see what the scan says, and then wait and see over the next seven, 10 days,” said Benitez.
“It is a positive thing that we have this international break now.”
Liverpool turned in another disappointing attacking display at Villa, creating only a handful of chances.
But with returning Olympic medallists Javier Mascherano and Lucas back in midfield, plus a solid defensive performance, Benitez did take some positives from the game.
He said: “I think it was a tough game but we could have won it and we also could have lost it, so at the end of the day a point is good for both teams.
“Clearly when you are without Gerrard and after you lose Torres it is always a problem but the team was always working hard and it's a credit to the players.
“It was a pity today because we could have won the game so it could have been better but it's not bad to get a point here.
“We could see that Mascherano and Lucas are fantastic players with a very good mentality after returning from the Olympic Games. That's the positive thing for us.”
Benitez also backed Robbie Keane as his wait for his first Liverpool goal continued.
After being through on goal, a challenge from Nigel Reo-Coker seemed to prevent the Irishman getting in a clean strike, but claims for a penalty were turned down by Martin Atkinson.
Keane was then substituted in place for Yossi Benayoun in the closing stages of the game but Benitez said: “Robbie was working really hard. I was trying to use another player with fresh legs like Yossi for the final 15 minutes.
“Robbie did a very good job for the team. He started the game on the left side in the first half and then I put him through the middle as a second striker. He was always working well for the team and trying to make things happen for us.”
Meanwhile, Espanyol are delaying Riera’s move as they ponder making Anfield outcast Steve Finnan part of the deal.
The 32-year-old right-back has not figured in any of Benitez’s squads so far and is free to find a new club before the close of today, as are Jermaine Pennant and Andriy Vorornin.
FFS the footballing gods are not being kind to us.
.
all fresh and ready for our 2 most important games of the season so far, nice one Rafa 
