Benitez taking no chances with Torres

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Torres has missed the Reds' last five games with a hamstring injury, including the first meeting with Atletico in the Spanish capital a fortnight ago.

Benitez accepts that Torres "can change games" but is happy enough with the performances of his other strikers and does not to want to gamble on the 24 year-old's long-term fitness as they seek to bounce back from Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Tottenham.

The Liverpool boss said: "We have been winning without Fernando, not on Saturday of course, but I have been very happy with the other strikers. He can win games on his own, so we would want him in our side if he is fit.

"Torres is a fantastic player, he can change games. But we have been playing so well we have not missed him.

"If he is confident and wants to play, he will play. If he is not ready then we will not take a risk."

Torres trained on Monday and Benitez will make an assessment nearer kick-off, although he intimated he is most likely to be on the substitutes' bench if he is involved at all.

He said: "Torres is 70% ready, he has trained, will train again and then we will decide. I want to wait to see how he feels.

"It depends on the player, if the player is confident you can take a risk, but if he is not confident you have to wait.

"He has had this problem before, but I do not see it as being a real worry. What we must do is make sure that when he is with the Spanish international team, that risks are not taken.