Torres: I did not put Spain before Liverpool

STRIKER Fernando Torres has denied putting country before club after having a knee operation which ended his Liverpool season.

Torres’ operation has ruled him out of Liverpool’s remaining games this season but he said safeguarding his international place was not the overriding factor in the decision to operate again.

“It’s not true,” said the 26-year-old. “What’s more, the injury happened in the second minute of the game (Europa League quarter-final second leg) against Benfica at Anfield and I played injured for 85 minutes.

“If I had been thinking about the World Cup and Spain I would have asked for a change (substitution).

“It wasn’t like that, I wanted to get to the final of the Europa League with my team.’’