Reds duo ruled out

Benayoun: Injury blow

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• Glen Johnson
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Liverpool have announced that Albert Riera and Yossi Benayoun face up to four weeks on the sidelines.

The pair picked up knocks during the Reds' 2-2 draw with Birmingham on Monday and could now be out of action until mid-December.

The news comes as a major blow to Rafa Benitez, who has seen his squad decimated by injuries of late.

Benitez, though, is hoping that the forthcoming international break will provide his walking wounded with an opportunity to nurse themselves back to full health.

The Spaniard told Liverpool's official website: "Both Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera have muscle problems and will be out for three to four weeks. It depends on each player, but for Riera this is the second time with this injury.

"We will have to wait and see how they progress but hopefully in three weeks they could be available.

Treatment

"We are disappointed because there are too many things at the moment that we can't change. Both players are wingers as well and for them to be out at the same time is bad news for us.

"Daniel Agger felt something in his back after the Birmingham game and didn't go with Denmark after we spoke with their doctor and manager. I think he could be back training again in a few days.

"Glen Johnson's was a strange situation because he finished the game on Monday and then travelled to London to be with England. He felt something in his hamstring and came back to us for a scan. Hopefully it's not too serious and he could be available again in a week.

"With Fernando Torres we are talking about two or three weeks of treatment and working with the physios. I was talking with him this morning and he is doing well. Hopefully he can be running in a few days and we will see how he progresses.

"It was good to have Steven Gerrard back on Monday night. He is feeling okay and should be training fully with the other players we have here in a few days.

"Sometimes a break comes at a bad time because you don't like to see your players flying all over the world, but this time it gives us a chance to get some players back."