Benitez fury as Torres is forced out of Chelsea game

The Liverpool boss was reeling from another major blow in an increasingly troubled Anfield reign after a scan on Thursday night revealed that Torres tore a hamstring in Spain's 1-0 win over France.

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Despite Liverpool's £21million marksman initially playing down the injury, he has been ruled out of the Barclays Premier League showdown with Chelsea and FA Cup fifth-round tie against Barnsley and is a serious doubt for the Champions League home leg with Inter Milan a week on Tuesday.

Benitez admits he must break his Stamford Bridge hoodoo on Sunday to have any chance of overhauling third-placed Chelsea, but fears international commitments could take their toll on key midfield anchor man Javier Mascherano, too.

While Torres was hobbling off after only 23 minutes against France, Mascherano's stamina levels were being tested to the limit by a transatlantic flight home on Friday following Argentina's Los Angeles meeting with Guatemala on Thursday night.

Benitez now has just two fit strikers — Peter Crouch and the out-of-form Dirk Kuyt — for a fixture Liverpool have failed to win since he took over from Gerard Houllier three-and-a-half years ago.

Benitez said: 'I really don't like friendly games being played in the middle of such a busy period. The associations could pay us money if a player is injured, but it hardly makes up for losing a player like Torres.

'We have key games in three major competitions over the next few weeks but may have to get by without some of our most influential players. And why? Because some countries want to make money.

'It was clear Torres would not be able to play at Chelsea, even before the scan. With a hamstring, you have to be careful. If it goes again, he could be out for a month or more. As for Mascherano, the best we can hope for is that he gets back with nothing worse than jet lag.'

Wigan boss Steve Bruce was equally unimpressed with the international break ahead of Saturday's relegation battle with Sunderland.

Captain Mario Melchiot picked up a thigh injury in Holland's win over Croatia in Split and striker Marlon King made a long distance trip to play in Jamaica's friendly with Costa Rica.

Bruce said: 'I can't believe we can have friendlies at a time like this when there is a six-pointer around the corner.'

Reports in Spain continue to link Benitez with a move for £12m-rated Real Zaragoza midfielder Sergio Garcia.