Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has admitted that Fernando Torres might miss their push to snatch the fourth Champions League spot in the Premier League (Liverpool 22/1 Top Four Finish) because he could need another knee operation.

The Spanish hitman’s plan to get the joint checked out by a specialist in his homeland on Friday hit the buffers when the volcanic ash cloud hanging over the British Isles resulted in the flight being cancelled.

Therefore Benitez revealed that the club cannot risk playing Torres until they get the green light from a medical expert as they do not want to cause any long-term damage to the knee which was only operated on in January.

Torres was always going to miss the Reds’ must-win Premier League clash against struggling West Ham at Anfield on Monday night (Liverpool 1/3, West Ham 9/1, draw 18/5 Match Betting).

However this fresh delay could now mean Torres will miss Thursday’s Europa League semi-final first leg against his former club Atletico Madrid (Atletico Madrid 5/4, Liverpool 7/4,  draw 9/4  Match Betting) if the clash can go-ahead with flights still being cancelled in and out of the UK.

If the delay goes on Torres could even miss the rest of the season and if surgery is required then his involvement in the World Cup with Spain (4/1 World Cup Outright) could also be scuppered.

Benitez told the News of the World: “I don’t know.

“He feels good and says the knee is fine, but we need the opinion of the specialist.

“He was supposed to see the specialist on Friday, but because of the cancelled flights there was a problem.”

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