Rafa bemoans Torres blow

Benitez and Torres

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Rafa Benitez admits that Fernando Torres looks set to miss Liverpool's next three matches.

Torres limped off for Spain on Wednesday after just 16 minutes of their win over Belgium.

Liverpool have also confirmed that it is again the Spaniard's hamstring, which was the same one he damaged at Aston Villa earlier this season.

He was out for three weeks previously, but The Reds have indicated that the new injury will only sideline him for ten days - although that will mean he misses the league games with Wigan and crucially Chelsea, and the UEFA Champions League clash at Atletico Madrid.

"I am very disappointed about this because it now looks like we will lose Fernando for three very important games," Benitez told the club's official website.

"We have Wigan at home and Chelsea away in the league and Atletico Madrid away in the Champions League, so to lose any players is a big blow.

"The initial reports say Fernando is likely to be out for around 10 days and that would mean he would miss these games.

"It is important that we show our strength at times like this.

"We cannot do anything about the injuries so it is up to the players to come in and do a good job if they are needed."

International issues

Benitez, who has also lost Ryan Babel to an ankle injury he suffered playing for Holland against Norway, has vented his anger at the amount of international games.

"There are too many international games and the demands on the players are too much," bemoaned Benitez.

"Someone needs to analyse this situation because it is putting the players at risk of injury.

"Maybe the answer is for there to be a two-tier qualifying system because there are too many games in the qualifiers for the World Cup and the European Championships which are not competitive but which still place great demands on the players.

"These fixtures are unnecessary and maybe it would be better if the weaker countries played one another and the best of them went to play the stronger countries in the qualifiers."