Torres on three week rehabilitation

RAFA BENITEZ has confirmed star striker Fernando Torres has started a three-week rehabilitation programme to avert the threat of groin surgery.

The Spanish international sat out Monday night’s 2-2 draw with Birmingham City after telling Benitez he did not feel confident enough to play another game on the injury.

Torres has battled through the pain barrier against Manchester United, Fulham and Lyon but he was not risked at Anfield, as the Reds surprisingly dropped two points.

He visited a specialist in Valencia last week for a second opinion on his sportsman’s groin and it was suggested that Torres needed three weeks rest from football.

That period has now started but even though Liverpool face several difficult fixtures at the end of November, Benitez is refusing to say when ‘El Nino’ will return.

"Torres was not confident and we have now started a three-week course of treatment," he said. "We will have to see how he reacts. We are not considering an operation yet."

Liverpool return to action after the international break when they host Manchester City on November 21 and then play Debrecen in the Champions League three days later.

Torres has been spared a trip to Spain to play in his country’s international friendly against Argentina and will continue to work with Liverpool’s medical staff.

"I don’t know if he will be ready for Manchester City," Benitez said. "The only thing I can say is we’re talking about two or three weeks working with the physios. We haven’t got a deadline, we just need to see how he is every day."

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Johnson confident of turning around things

Glen Johnson is confident Liverpool can turn around their "awful" run of form despite Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera adding to the club's injury problems.

With Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres both struggling for fitness in recent weeks, Liverpool have won only one of their last nine games and they needed a highly controversial penalty to secure a 2-2 draw at home to Birmingham on Monday.

The match also saw Benayoun and Riera both ruled out for at least three weeks with hamstring injuries, while Daniel Agger has suffered a slight recurrence of a back problem. The extra absentees will increase the pressure on Liverpool as they trail Premier League leaders Chelsea by 11 points and look set to exit the Champions League at the group stage.

However, Johnson, who has just returned from groin and calf injuries, feels they can still turn their run of form around despite their problems.

"The record sounds awful and it is awful for a club like Liverpool, but things like this happen in football," he said. "You stick together and keep fighting. We have seen in the league that everyone can beat everyone.

"If someone had told you at the start of the season that we'd win one in nine, you'd have laughed your head off. We will just look to get as many points as we can as quickly as possible then have a look at the end of the season and see where we are.

"Unfortunately, we have picked up a couple more injuries but the sooner we get the lads back together the better it will be for everyone. I am one of the worst when it comes to being injured. I can barely watch when that happens and all you want to do is help out.

"You just have to listen to your body. I have had a problem with my groin and torn my calf. It has been very frustrating but now I am looking to get going properly."

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Benitez fears title race over

Rafael Benitez is now looking at targets this season other than the Premiership title.

Liverpool are 11 points behind leaders Chelsea following Monday night's 2-2 home draw with Birmingham.

Benitez's side have won only one of their last nine matches in all competitions, and just one of their last five in the Barclays Premier League.

A more realistic target now is to retain their place in the top four and achieve Champions League qualification for next season.

Benitez said after the draw with the midlanders: "We have to be realistic and think what our target is now. For me it is just the next game, the next point to see whether we can climb a little higher in the table.

"Then you never know what can happen. We did win six games in a row, if we did that again everything would be different.

"The main thing now is to get players fit, and see who we have available for the next game after the international break.

"We will then wait for some months to pass and see whether we can win some games in succession. That is all I am looking at now."

Benitez has always talked of the big clubs losing more matches this season, which would allow Liverpool to keep in contact despite their nightmare form.

The Spaniard added: "People keep discussing our bad run, but previously we won six on the trot and we have beaten Manchester United.

"It is a question of keeping going. I would be really worried if we were not playing well and not winning. But I can see that we are beginning to play better, it is a question of luck now.

"Maybe people think that I am angry about all this. But when I see the players working so hard, trying to change our situation, there is nothing more to say to them, they are doing all they can.

"This is the only way to change our situation. To keep working hard and play well, and I believe we did play well against Birmingham."

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Benitez shows faith in the team

Rafael Benitez believes his players are angry at the way Liverpool's season has gone, and want to put things right.

Liverpool are desperately searching for a win to re-ignite their season after a spell of just one victory in eight matches in all competitions and will get a chance when they face Birmingham at Anfield in Monday's crucial Premier League encounter.

And Benitez revealed he fully understands the frustrations expressed by Jose Reina after last week's 1-1 draw in Lyon, when the Spanish shot-stopper said it was a disgrace the club were struggling to qualify for the Champions League last 16.

"Everyone here, every fan, every player, wants to see the team doing better," Benitez said. "I have confidence we will improve. Winning a couple of games in a row will boost everyone's confidence.

"Pepe Reina has been very disappointed with what has happened in the Champions League, and said so. But he has a very positive mentality, we both agree.

Benitez admitted a series of injury problems have meant his side have struggled to get out of their current rut but believes a return to fitness for some players has lifted the squad.

"We are not stupid, we know we can improve," Benitez said. "But we have trained well since we returned from Lyon with Fabio Aurelio, Glen Johnson and Albert Riera all back and working. I could see the difference in the mood of the squad.''

"They want to play, to be ready and to help in the situation we are in. People have been angry, and they want to change our position. It is all about getting a good win. And when your backs are against the wall, you play better and fight better.

"We now must show confidence in our team, our staff, and work harder. The finances are being questioned. But I am assured that we did not budget for a last 16 place this season, only to reach the group stages.

"The problem will come next season if we cannot arrest this situation. But the commercial department is earning us more money and the position of the club is very healthy.

"But if we do get into the top four it will be easier. But we are not desperate, I can guarantee we are in a good position and will be in a better position.''

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Aquilani finally to make his Anfield Debut

Liverpool's fans will finally get the chance to welcome £20 million Alberto Aquilani to Anfield on Monday.

The Italy international, signed in August, has been recovering from a knee operation since. Now, having also overcome a recent virus problem, the 25-year-old seems certain to make his Premier League debut for the club against Birmingham.

The fans have waited so long to see the man bought to replace Xabi Alonso, so he can expect a hero's reception. Certainly his appearance in the squad will give Liverpool's worried support something to cheer with fitness doubts surrounding Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.

Manager Rafael Benitez looks likely to name Aquilani on the bench, and give him the opportunity of a cameo appearance in the second half.

Benitez said: "It could be the time to let the Anfield fans see Aquilani at last. He has been getting fitter and had a short spell in a reserve game and then a few minutes at Arsenal in the Carling Cup.

"We had him with us in Lyon last week and I did want to bring him on. But Lucas and Javier Mascherano were controlling the game. So we waited a bit, we did not want to change they way the side were playing, even though he could have come on. Then we scored and there was no need to use him, it was just a shame we conceded so late.

"He was almost over the virus and he will certainly be much better on Monday. He has trained well. He does not have match fitness, but the only way to improve that is to play him in games.

"We have more players available now, so maybe he can be on the bench and then come on to change the game if necessary. He will certainly be involved.''

Torres has the better chance of being involved against the Midlanders as he struggles with a groin problem.

Gerrard has barely trained for a fortnight, but Benitez was pleased with his involvement in a training session yesterday and his chances of facing Birmingham improved.

Fabio Aurelio, Martin Skrtel and Albert Riera are also likely to return from injuries. Glen Johnson has also improved his after training this weekend, but he and Martin Kelly are still struggling.

Benitez at least needs Torres on the pitch for a game Liverpool must win to keep themselves in contention for a top four place.

He said: "We hope to be able to keep going with Fernando. Maybe he can be available for Birmingham, we will see how it goes. It was a risk to play him against Manchester United, but he scored a fantastic goal and everyone was saying what a massive difference he makes.

"He played, and scored, at Fulham and I was criticised by a lot of 'experts' because he was taken off in the second half. They can see that he has a problem, but the same thing happened in Lyon when I took him off.

"You cannot win. It does not matter what you do, someone will always criticise you. It is too easy. Fernando will play if he continues to have less pain than before. Does he need an operation? Nobody really knows, we'll wait and see.

"I have had many players with this problem under my management over the years. They carried on, and sometimes you can play for the whole season with such a problem.

"But I have been surprised at what some critics have said about Torres' involvement. People who have played football for years seem not to understand that the manager has more information.

"So when they are on TV, they just talk and they do not really know the situation. I have enough experience to cope. I understand how our club is treated by the pundits in England, and the things that critics say and why.

"Hopefully people who do understand the game will know how difficult it is to manage a team like ours. I hope they can be more respectful and know we are trying to do our job here in a difficult situation.

"We have a lot of confidence in our team, our squad, our staff and especially our fans to understand what we are doing.''

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Hicks assures that none of the start players will be sold

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has insisted the club will not be forced to sell off their star names should they fail to qualify for the next stage of the Champions League, or miss out on the competition next season.

With Liverpool's finances on a knife-edge, there has been speculation that the likes of Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres will have to go to balance the books if they are not playing among Europe's elite next year.

But Hicks has rubbished such reports, claiming the club's best players will go nowhere. He told the Sunday Mirror: "None of our star players will be sold, regardless of results.

"The club is doing very well due to rapidly growing commercial revenues.

"We have significant investor interest and want to make sure that we pick high-quality partners.

"We are happy with the way things are going financially but we hoped things would be better on the pitch.''

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Rafa to have no money for the transfer window

Rafa Benitez has resigned himself to a barren New Year in the transfer market – but the Liverpool boss insists he still has what it takes to rescue the Reds’ season.

Benitez will be told there is no money available for new signings – unless he can produce a miraculous Champions League recovery to guide Liverpool into the knock-out stages of Europe’s top club competition.

But he believes that Premier League salvation is still achievable without January recruits if he can keep his squad injury-free.

Benitez said: “If I have no money in the New Year it will not be a problem.

“My idea is to get all our players fit. With a full squad we have a very good team – as we showed last season when we scored a lot of goals, set some records and went very close. This season we have not just lost Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres with injuries.

“We have other players coming back. Glen Johnson, Fabio Aurelio and Albert Riera are back training and there is Alberto Aquilani and Nabil El Zhar.

“I will say this again – with everyone available we are not the bad team that some people think.

“The problem has been that we have important players missing and in some games we have been unlucky.”

Benitez has already held talks with managing director Christian Purslow (left) about the consequences of an early Champions League exit.

Circumstances will change if Purslow can bring in investors to work alongside owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

And Benitez admitted that five Premier League defeats and a losses to Lyon and Fiorentina have instigated the most stressful period of his five-year reign – even though Purslow has given him assurances that his job is safe this season.

Benitez added: “At Liverpool, this has been my most stressful time, but you have to carry on with your job.

“I have been working with Christian Purslow and I know the situation. Together we will work to find what is best for the club and best for the team.

“Not staying in the Champions League will not be a big problem financially because the budget was set only for the group stages. Anything after that would have been a bonus.

“Of course there will be problems if we are not in the Champions League next year – but I believe we will be.

“It is a question of winning one or two games in a row and everything will look different again.”

Gerrard (above) and Torres could feature against Birmingham tomorrow night – even though Benitez insists neither player will be fit for international duty this week.

England and Spain have prestige friendlies against Brazil and Argentina respectively.

Benitez has spoken to Spain’s medical staff and has received assurances from coach Vicente del Bosque that Torres will not be selected for a game taking place at Atletico Madrid’s Vicente Calderon Stadium.

The Liverpool boss has had no such contact with Fabio Capello.

But he said: “Gerrard may be available against Birmingham and the same is true – but neither is fit because they have missed so much training.

“Gerrard hasn’t trained properly for 15 days so what is the point in [England] taking him?

“Our doctor is in contact with England so they know the situation.

“All I will say is that I hope England show some common sense.”

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Pepe ready to die for Liverpool

PEPE Reina has promised there'll be no mass desertion of Anfield's sinking ship if Liverpool's catastrophic season gets any worse.

Rafa Benitez's men are facing the humiliation of Europa League football following their midweek woe in Lyon.

Failure to finish in the top four is sure to lead to fresh speculation about an Anfield exodus involving Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano.

They know their place is in the Champions League.

But Reina wants to pledge his long-term future to Liverpool no matter what the rest of the season holds and is sure others will stick by the deals they signed a year ago.

"People talk all the time about bringing in more big signings but I see a squad here of 25 good players who all want to be at Liverpool," said Reina.

"My commitment to Liverpool is 100 per cent.

"I would die for that Liverpool shirt. I think the club loves me and I feel the same, no matter what the situation. I can't say any more than that.

"Nobody has offered me a new contract yet but it is my wish to sign so we'll see what happens when we talk.

"I don't want to even think about not being in the Champions League. If that's what happens, okay we'll have to think about that next season.

"But I remain optimistic about the reaction of this team.

"What we need is to pull the strings together.

"I don't even think about the top four. I think only about winning trophies. We know we have to start winning games again starting on Monday.

"Before we can do anything else we must think of winning the next game and take it step by step. There's no point worrying about where we will be in April at this stage of the season because what we need is a win."

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Rafa updates on Torres and Gerrard Injury

Rafael Benitez today revealed that he will give Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard late fitness tests before deciding whether the duo can face Birmingham City on Monday.

The Reds boss has had to cope with a growing injury list in recent weeks but is hopeful he will be able to recall some key personnel when his side face Alex McLeish's men.

"We are improving. We have some players doing light training again. At least they are training and hopefully today they will be a bit better," he told his pre-match press conference.

"We will see if they can be available. There is a big difference between players being fit and whether they can be available.

"It is something we have to analyse. For example, yesterday Gerrard was training with the physios on his day off. He is improving. We don't know if he will be fit. We don't know if he will be available. We will have to analyse the situation. He was injured before and has now been 15 days without training with the team.

"Can he play or can he be on the bench? At this moment we do not know."

Asked about the fitness of Torres, the boss said: "He has gone to Spain to see a specialist. We have also been in contact with our medical staff. We know that he is a little bit better than he was before.

"He still has some problems and will be working with the physios. We don't know if he can face Birmingham. He can train, but we will have to manage the situation. After all this we will make a decision."

The injuries to both Gerrard and Torres have raised questions as to whether they will need surgery to cure their respective problems, but Benitez believes they must analyse each case carefully before making a decision.

"They have had experience of these types of problems for years, so it is a question of trying to keep going and to see how they react," he said.

"Each player is different. Some players will work with the physio and be fit throughout the whole season. Others may need to stop and then carry on again.

"Torres is playing with pain, but he is someone who has a positive and good mentality. He wants to play for the team and I think we can carry on.

"I was really surprised with the criticism after some games. You can see he's not 100 per cent. So when can we decide if he can carry on or not? Again, it depends on the reaction of player.

"At this moment he is playing and trying to do his best. Sometimes you can see he is not fully fit, but he is improving. He was much better after the game against Fulham than he was against United. It was the same after Lyon, so he is improving.

"Stevie is totally different. He is clearly not fit and will need time. Fernando is not fully fit. There is a big difference."

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Agger wants the Reds to have the belief

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is taking heart from the Reds' positive performance against Olympique Lyonnais this week, despite the disappointing result – a 1-1 draw placed the Merseysiders' hopes of progress in the Champions League in severe doubt.

"You get what you deserve in football and you have to look at closing the game down otherwise you get punished in the way we did in Lyon," he told the club's official website.

"Now we have just got to look forward to the Birmingham game to get going. If we keep playing with the effort we did in Lyon, we hope the situation will turn for us.

"It's always so difficult to accept when you lose two points in the manner we did so late in a game.

"We were all so disappointed. We might have controlled the game but it's no consolation; you've got to keep working hard until the last minute.

"But we have to keep believing. We have got to go into the next two games, make sure that we win them and then take it from there."

Liverpool welcome Birmingham City to Anfield on Monday night and Agger is expecting to be fit for the game after playing in Lyon.

He added: "Physically I feel okay. I wanted to play [in Lyon] and I do all I can to play in every match, as all the lads do here. But sometimes it's not going to happen."

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