Torres to start as Benitez rolls the dice

Fernando Torres will carry the hopes of injury-stricken Liverpool on his shoulders on Wednesday night, with boss Rafael Benitez praying his gamble to play the striker despite his hernia problem pays off.

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Fernando Torres is substituted as Rafael Benitez tries to manage his injury

Liverpool face group E leaders Lyon in the Stade Gerland knowing that only a victory will keep alive any realistic hopes of staying in the Champions League this season.

Benitez has been trying to limit Torres' game time to have him ready for this crucial match. Benitez's decision to substitute Torres off midway through the second half of the Premier League match with Fulham proved costly as Liverpool lost, adding to the pressure for Torres to resuscitate their sinking Champions League hopes in Lyon.

Torres will start the match and so too could Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani. Liverpool are without Steven Gerrard, Martin Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio, Albert Riera and Glen Johnson. Centre-back Daniel Agger will face a late test on a back injury, and Liverpool could well have teenage full-back Stephen Darby in the side.

Benitez said: "Fernando is improving, we do not want him to have an operation so we are managing his fitness carefully. But he is getting better. He had some pain after he played, and scored, against Manchester United.

"But he was better after the Fulham game at the weekend, although he could still feel something wrong. I hope that he will be even better for this match. I said recently that 80 per cent of Fernando can win matches, I hope that is the case again.''