Crocked: Benayoun grabbed the back of his leg as
soon as he felt the twinge
Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera will miss key games at
home and abroad after picking up hamstring injuries that will
sideline them for at least a month.
Under-fire
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez confirmed that both
players had torn a hamstring in Tuesday's 2-2 draw with
Birmingham and will be out for the Barclays Premier
League meetings with
Manchester City and
Everton and the equally-critical Champions' League trip
to Debrecen.
Winger Riera suffered a recurrence of the injury that had kept
him out for three weeks, while in-form midfielder Benayoun pulled
up, clutching the back of his left leg, in the 77th-minute of a
dramatic match at Anfield.
The double setback is another huge concern for Benitez
as he attempts to restore morale that has been given a mauling by a
return of just one win from their last nine games.
Riera and the increasingly infuential Benayoun will struggle to
be fit for the trip to Blackburn and final European group game, at
home to Fiorentina at the start of December, and could even be
doubtful for the visit of Arsenal soon after.
With Liverpool's Champions League prospects hanging by a thread
and their Premier League position so perilous that even a top-four
finish is beginning to look a tall order, the timing could hardly
have been worse.
No more: Riera hobbled off
Benitez admitted Fernando Torres was in no state to risk
his hernia problem against Birmingham and only dared use Steven
Gerrard from the bench, such are the misgivings over his
troublesome groin.
The race is on to have £21million record signing Torres and
inspirational skipper Gerrard fit to face top-four rivals City a
week on Saturday, though Benitez conceded:
'At the moment, it is impossible to say. Fernando had no
confidence in his ability to withstand a game, so it made sense to
start treatment and fitness work with the physio straightaway.
'Stevie came through with no problems, after going on as
substitute, but we will have to wait and see how they progress
before deciding whether they can play in our next game.
'Albert suffered the same problem as before, and Yossi also
picked up a tear to the hamstring. It is clear some players are
playing too many games in a row, and Daniel Agger also felt some
discomfort in his back again.
'But there is no problem with morale. It is just a question of
luck turning our way, especially after it went against us once more
against Birmingham. After all the pressure we had and chances we
created in the first half, it was absolutely unbelievable that we
went in 2-1 behind.
'But the players showed real character and desire to come back
like that, and, in the end, we deserved to win. 'Bad luck and
injuries are not helping us, but with that sort of spirit, we can
be challenging near the top again.'
