Thigh muscle rupture to keep Torres out of first three fixtures
Published:Spain’s football federation say the Liverpool and World Cup-winning Spain striker Fernando Torres has ruptured a muscle in his left thigh.
The injury means the player is likely to miss his club’s first three league fixtures, which, if he’s at Anfield, wil be at home to Arsenal (6/1 to win the league), away to Manchester City (5/1) and home to West Browich Albion.
Liverpool lost two of their first three fixtures last term, a start from which they never recovered. With Torres out of those tricky opening games Liverpool’s chances of winning the league title, at 14/1, look slim.
Indeed, should they drop points to Arsenal and City, their bid to finish in the top four could be floundering early – they are 1/2 to end up outside the Champions League places.
In a statement on its website the Spanish federation said Torres had a magnetic resonance scan yesterday at the Centro de Madrid Clinic and evidence was found of “a grade one muscle fibre rupture in the left thigh”.
While the injury to be not as severe as first feared, the test results mean he will be out for another prolonged period, having just returned from knee surgery and doubts must remain over the striker’s future career.
Chelsea, reported to be close to a £50million move for the player, will now weigh up whether he is a risk worth taking. The Blues are 13/8 to retain their title.
With Torres missing and no signings yet made, Liverpool look at risk of losing their opening Premier League game for the second season in a row – it’s a 9/5 chance.
They lost 2-1 at Tottenham Hotspur last season and a repeat defeat at home to Arsenal would mirror the 2009/10 home loss to Arsene Wenger’s team – that’s a 10/1 price.
If the injury proves to be more serious, the striker could miss Liverpool’s fixture away at Manchester United on Sunday, September 19th.
Liverpool have yet to comment on the Spanish federation’s diagnosis.
Torres scored twice in the thrilling 4-4 draw in the Liverpool v Arsenal fixture from two years ago. However, without him a 0-0 seems likelier, at 8/1. See the full Liverpool Specials market.
