Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has admitted he’s all to aware of the dangers that international football could bring his players this week – and in particular to Fernando Torres.
Torres limped off the pitch at Anfield on Saturday during the Reds’ 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid in a friendly.
And with the new Premier League season just days away, Benitez doesn’t want any risks taken with his star striker as he appears for Spain on international duty in a friendly against Macedonia tonight.
Benitez told The Mirror, “We would like to take things carefully and ease him back in, but of course it is now out of control because he is with Spain.
“It is hard to say where he is at, but he came back very late because he was with Spain in such an important tournament. I can say he has not had enough training and then he scores two goals.
“But equally I can I say he has had enough time and he misses three chances, and then you will have he has not had enough training and he is not fit.
“He has gone with the national team and we are talking with the staff to make sure they do the right things with him. That is all we can hope.”
Meanwhile Dirk Kuyt, Ryan Babel and Glen Johnson could all feature in this evening’s friendly between Holland and England in Amsterdam.
Albert Riera and Pepe Reina will be with Torres for the Macedonia friendly.
Yossi Benayoun will be in action for Isreael as they take on Northern Ireland.
And Javier Mascherano has a long flight back from Moscow, where Argentina play Russia in a friendly this evening.
Liverpool start their league campaign away to Tottenham this Sunday (kick-off 4pm).
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