Torres hammer blow for Benitez

LIVERPOOL striker Fernando Torres has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery on his troublesome knee injury last night.

The procedure will keep the 26-year-old out of action for around six weeks, meaning he will miss not only the Premier League run in - starting with tonight’s clash against West Ham - but also the remainder of the club’s Europa League campaign, which continues this week with a semi-final against Torres’ former club Atletico Madrid.

Confirmed a club spokesperson: “Fernando saw a specialist in Spain earlier today and it was decided that he would need surgery on a torn cartilage in his right knee.