Liverpool ready to call on Torres factor
Reuters - Monday 03 November 2008, 02:00
By Martyn Herman
LONDON, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Liverpool are banking on the
expected return of Fernando Torres against Atletico Madrid on
Tuesday to end a dismal record against Spanish sides at Anfield
and fire them into the last 16 of the Champions League.
Torres missed the trip to his old club two weeks ago when a
1-1 draw left Liverpool and Atletico level at the top of Group D
with seven points and favourites to progress.
Liverpool have made light of the absence of Torres who has
not played since injuring his hamstring on international duty
last month, going stride for stride with Chelsea at the top of
the Premier League.
On Saturday, however, his lethal finishing was badly missed
when Liverpool failed to convert numerous chances to kill off
Tottenham Hotspur before losing 2-1, a defeat that cost them top
spot after just one week.
"Hopefully he will be ready," manager Rafael Benitez told
the club's website (www.liverpoolfc.tv).
"If he cannot start the game then he will be on the bench if
everything is okay."
Anfield is a daunting stadium for visiting sides but those
arriving from Spain often find it to their liking.
Liverpool have failed to win any of their last five
Champions League home fixtures against Spanish clubs and did not
even manage a goal in the last four.
LOST MOMENTUM
Benitez knows it is time to put that statistic to bed and
quickly recover the momentum of a promising season after losing
their unbeaten league record at the weekend.
"It's good we have another important game on Tuesday and the
reaction of the players has to be to play well and win the
game," he said after the defeat by Spurs.
Atletico coach Javier Aguirre's decision to bring Sergio
Aguero back into his starting line-up on Saturday paid off with
the Argentina forward scoring twice in a 2-0 Primera Liga
victory at home to Real Mallorca.
It was Atletico's first league win in five matches and
followed a battling 4-4 draw at Villarreal the previous weekend
for which Aguero was rested.
"The win against Mallorca was a relief," Aguirre said on
Atletico's website (www.clubatleticodemadrid.com).
"We are out of intensive care but we are still under
observation," he said, adding that Aguero would be in the squad
for the Liverpool tie but still had work to do on his fitness.
"He still needs two weeks of specific work," Aguirre said.
"I'll take him to Liverpool but he'll continue to work
intensively. He's fresher but there is still more to do."
Goalkeeper Gregory Coupet has recovered from injury and is
in the squad for Tuesday, but defenders Tomas Ujfalusi and
Giourkas Seitaridis are both out.
Probable teams:
Liverpool: 25-Pepe Reina; 17-Alvaro Arbeloa, 23-Jamie
Carragher, 5-Daniel Agger, 2-Andrea Dossena; 14-Xabi Alonso,
20-Javier Mascherano, 8-Steven Gerrard, 19-Ryan Babel; 18-Dirk
Kuyt, 7-Robbie Keane
Atletico Madrid: 25-Leo Franco; 3-Antonio Lopez, 5-John
Heitinga, 21-Luis Perea, 4-Mariano Pernia; 11-Maxi Rodriguez,
12-Paulo Assuncao, 18-Maniche, 20-Simao Sabrosa; 7-Diego Forlan,
10-Sergio Aguero or 14-Florent Sinama-Pongolle
Referee: Martin Hansson (Sweden)
(Editing by Rex Gowar)
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