Rafa Benitez has confirmed today that Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun all face a lenghty period on the sidelines.
Torres has torn a cartilage in his right knee, meaning he could be out for 6 weeks or more, while Gerrard is facing 2 weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury and the tricky, skillful winger Benayoun has a fractured rib and is out for between 3 and 4 weeks.
This means that Liverpool will be missing 3 of their best attack minded players, and their best 2 players in Torres and Gerrard, for the crucial Premier League games coming up against Stoke (16/1/10) and the 6 pointer against rivals Spurs, at Anfield (20/1/10). Torres could also miss 5 more games, including matches against Everton, Arsenal and Manchester City, forcing Rafa to continue with the talented but inexperienced David Ngog in the lone striker role.
With Glen Johnson also suffering from injury, and expected to be out until the end of the month at least, this new injury crisis that has afflicted the Reds threatens to derail Liverpool's season even further, making a top 4 finish even harder to achieve. Any hopes of winning the title were killed off months ago as the Reds have simply not been anywhere near good enough to compete with the deep pockets of Chelsea and Manchester City, nor the attacking flair of Arsenal, and the strength in depth that Manchester United's squad possesses.
Liverpool will have to hope that the likes of Ryan Babel, Dirk Kuyt, Maxi Rodgriuez and Albert Riera step up to the plate and prove their worth to the side, or we could be facing a few more difficult months ahead.
YNWA
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