SOCCER/ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: LIVERPOOL'S CONCERNS over Fernando Torres' persistent hamstring troubles deepened last night when the Spain international was ruled out for up to three weeks after being injured in the Champions League defeat of Marseille. It is the third time Torres has been sidelined by a hamstring complaint this season.
The club's record signing, and last season's leading goalscorer, played the full 90 minutes of Liverpool's 1-0 win on Wednesday but reported a tightening of his right hamstring to the manager, Rafael Benitez, afterwards. Torres was assessed by the club's medical team yesterday and they diagnosed a strained hamstring that will keep the 24-year-old on the sidelines until mid-December.
While the latest problem is not serious, and his scheduled absence coincides with a relatively undemanding spell in Liverpool's title-chasing campaign, the recurrence of another such injury is a worry for Benitez as he attempts to lead the club to its first league championship since 1990.
"Fernando has a strain in his right hamstring and will be out of action for between two and three weeks," a Liverpool spokesman confirmed last night.
Torres will now miss Liverpool's Premier League game at home to West Ham United on Monday night, and the trip to Blackburn Rovers on December 6th and, unless he makes a swift recovery, the following weekend's home game with Hull City. He will also miss the final Champions League group game at PSV Eindhoven on December 9th and will most likely target the visit to Arsenal on December 21st for his return.
Liverpool also confirmed last night that Fabio Aurelio, the Brazilian left-back who was substituted at half-time against Marseille, will be out for a fortnight with a recurrence of a calf strain.
Uefa will make a decision today on what action to take following the missile-throwing incident involving Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard at Anfield on Wednesday night.
Gerrard appeared to be hit by missiles thrown from the Marseille fans' section as he waited to take a corner in the first half of Liverpool's 1-0 victory.
Uefa confirmed the incident will be included in Portuguese referee Olegario Benquerenca's report as well as the report from Uefa delegate Svein Johannessen.
Meanwhile, Frank Lampard insists the controversy surrounding Didier Drogba did not affect Chelsea's preparation for their Champions League clash with Bordeaux.
The Ivory Coast striker, who appeared as a second-half substitute, was alleged to have met Inter Milan sporting director Marco Branca in a Fulham restaurant on Monday night.
Drogba has not denied the meeting took place, but the furore over his alleged attendance cast a shadow over coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's preparations.
When asked if the Drogba issue had affected the team's performance, Lampard said: "I don't think so. We were dedicated to trying to win the game and Didier came on and tried to do that. It is for Didier and the club to talk about."
Now Chelsea will have to beat Cluj without the services of Lampard, who was sent off for a second bookable offence late in the game.
"I thought the sending-off was harsh but the referee wanted to give cards out all night and I gave him the opportunity to do it again," said Lampard. "It is frustrating to miss the final group match because it's going to be a big game for us.
"I don't think teams have worked us out, it's more when you get to a certain level teams give you respect. They work hard to stop you playing and that's what teams are doing to us in the Premier League and in Europe."
