Liverpool hit by Torres setback

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has confirmed that hamstrung striker Fernando Torres will be sidelined until next year.

GettyImages

Fernando Torres: Happy in England.

The 24-year-old had been expected to be out of action for only two weeks but specialists in Spain have advised that the former Atletico Madrid star remains on the sidelines for a month.

Liverpool boss Benitez said: "We first said two to three weeks but do not want to put a time on it now. He will come back when he is ready. We will not rush him back."

Torres suffered the injury, his fifth in 18 months, whilst playing for Liverpool during the Champions League victory against Marseille in November, but Benitez is pointing the finger at the training methods of the Spanish national side for the re-occurring problem.

"He has been injured now three times while with the national team and it is something we have to analyse," Benitez said. "We knew they were doing something that is maybe not the best for the player."

"We want to resolve this problem once and for all and we will make sure we do that."

Despite sitting on top of the Premier League Liverpool have struggled recently in the absence of last season's top scorer. The Reds have drawn their last two home league games 0-0, against Fulham and West Ham United.

Torres will now miss Premier League games against Blackburn Rovers, Hull City, Arsenal and Bolton Wanderers and Tuesday's Champions League tie against PSV Eindhoven.