Liverpool discovered the full price yesterday of their rugged commitment against Arsenal with confirmation of a fractured metatarsal for Xabi Alonso and a torn adductor muscle for Fernando Torres.
A glimmer of light came in the diagnosis that Javier Mascherano only bruised a foot in Sunday's draw at Anfield, but the consolation will be slight for Rafael Benitez ahead of what could well prove a pivotal period in Liverpool's season.
Torres, Liverpool's record €38 million signing, will be absent for at least three weeks having suffered a fresh tear in a muscle he first strained while training with Spain earlier this month. The 24-year-old broke down during the first half against Arsene Wenger's side having, his manager later admitted, been pressed into a return following an initial three-week absence and will now miss tomorrow's League Cup tie with Cardiff City, Premier League fixtures with Blackburn Rovers and Fulham plus, crucially, next week's Champions League date at home to Besiktas.
Liverpool require a maximum return from their three remaining Champions League games to salvage qualification from Group A and could also lose the influential Alonso until the final, and potentially defining, tie away in Marseille on December 11th.
The Spanish midfielder made his first start in six weeks on Sunday but hobbled off in the 68th minute having landed awkwardly in an aerial challenge with the Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia. His fall fractured the same metatarsal that snapped against Portsmouth on September 15th and, though Liverpool cannot put an accurate time-scale on his recovery until after a visit to a specialist today, the 25-year-old's recovery time may exceed the six weeks he has already served if medical opinion decides on surgery or an extended rest period.
The loss of his two compatriots represents a major setback for Benitez, who saw Jermaine Pennant ruled out until early January with a stress fracture of his right tibia on Friday. A Liverpool spokesman last night confirmed: "A scan has shown a tear to a different adductor muscle to his original injury and we expect Fernando to be out for about three weeks. As for Xabi Alonso, an X-ray showed a fracture to the fourth metatarsal in his left foot. Xabi will be seen by a consultant tomorrow after which we will have a much better idea of the timescales involved."
There was better news on Mascherano's injured foot. The Argentinian left Anfield wearing a protective cast yet his was only minor damage and the midfielder has a faint chance of facing Blackburn at Ewood Park on Saturday.
