Torres, Benayoun and Riera ruled out

Liverpool FC striker Fernando Torres looks set to miss the UEFA Champions League Group E visit to Debreceni VSC on 24 November while midfielders Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera have been ruled out for "three to four weeks" according to manager Rafael Benítez.

Torres blow
Torres has been suffering with a hernia problem and the 25-year-old Spanish international faces a spell on the sidelines. Benítez told Liverpoolfc.tv: "We are talking about two or three weeks of treatment and working with the physios. I was talking with him this morning and he is doing well. Hopefully he can be running in a few days and we will see how he progresses."

Duo out
Israeli international Yossi Benayoun, 29, and 27-year-old Spain winger Riera have both sustained torn hamstrings. As well as sitting out the trip to Debrecen, they will struggle to be fit for the ACF Fiorentina home game on 9 December. Liverpool must win both matches to have any chance of making up a five-point gap to second-placed Fiorentina. "Both Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera have muscle problems and will be out for three to four weeks," Benítez said. "It depends on each player, but for Riera this is the second time with this injury. We have to wait and see how they progress, but hopefully in three weeks they could be available."

Gerrard boost
Benítez also suggested that Daniel Agger's back problem and Glen Johnson's hamstring injury should only keep them out for a few days, before adding: "It was good to have Steven Gerrard back on Monday night [after withdrawing from England's game against Brazil in Doha with a groin problem]. He is feeling OK and should be training fully with the other players we have here in a few days."