Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has revealed that Fernando Torres is still not fully fit but will be on the bench for Thursday’s Europa League last-32 second leg clash with Unirea Urziceni (Unirea 7/2, Liverpool 3/4, draw 13/5 Midweek Euro Coupon) in case of an emergency.

The 25-year-old Spanish international, who has been absent for five weeks following knee surgery, played in the final 15 minutes of Sunday’s goalless draw at Manchester City.

However Benitez is refusing to rush him back for the Unirea clash in Romania on Thursday, despite only holding a 1-0 advantage from the first leg at Anfield, because he does not want to risk losing him for the Premier League run-in as the Reds continue their fight for fourth spot at home to Blackburn on Sunday (Liverpool 1/3, Blackburn 7/1, draw 16/5 90 Minutes).

“We knew we could use him against City. The idea was for 15-20 minutes but still he is not ready,” said Benitez.

“He needs match fitness and has to play and train, and we will see later on how he is coming along.

“He was doing very well with the physios and fitness coach. He is really happy.

“We decided to put him in the squad (against City) because he was training well last Friday. Now he can carry on and progress. He will be ready soon.”

Don’t forget to check out totesport.com for the extensive markets on the Europa League as well as the Premier League

Rafael Benitez has revealed vice captain Jamie Carragher is likely to miss Liverpool’s Europa League tie against Unirea Urziceni on Thursday (Liverpool 1/7 Unirea Urziceni 4/1 - To Qualify).

The experienced defender picked up an adductor injury in the 1-0 Premier League defeat by Arsenal on Wednesday but is expected to return next Sunday when the Reds take on fellow top-four hopefuls Manchester City (Man City 4/7 Premier League - Without Big 4).

Benitez told the official club website: “I am not sure if he will be available for Thursday against Unirea, but maybe he will have a chance against City.”

Sotirios Kyrgiakos is suspended for the next two Premier League games and Glen Johnson remains on the treatment table, meaning Benitez could be facing a defensive crisis.

The Spaniard has also said he does not expect leading goalscorer Fernando Torres to return from a knee injury against Roberto Mancini’s men next Sunday.

Don’t miss your chance to check out Champions League and Europa League match betting opportunities on totesport.com.

Harry Redknapp is convinced Tottenham can take advantage of a weakened Liverpool when the top-four hopefuls meet at Anfield in the Premier League on Wednesday (Liverpool 11/8 draw 9/4 Tottenham 2/1 - Premier League match betting).

The Reds will be missing influential striker Fernando Torres (knee) captain Steven Gerrard (hamstring) and creative midfielder Yossi Benayoun (rib) when they look to strike a telling blow against one of their rivals for a coveted Champions League place (Tottenham/Tottenham 9/2 half-time/full-time).

Tottenham are four points clear of the Merseysiders in fourth spot and have Jamie O’Hara back in the squad because Portsmouth could not re-register him on loan at Fratton Park.

“I’d be lying if I stood here and said that the absence of Gerrard and Torres won’t matter,” said Redknapp.

“Of course, they are two world-class players, and they will miss them.

“But they have a strong squad. I have never been there and had an easy game. It is a difficult place to go.”

Don’t miss your chance to check out Totesport.com’s midweek Premier League coupon and football specials.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has dismissed speculation he wants to leave Anfield and insists he is totally focused on helping the Reds (100/1 to win the Premier League) achieve a top four finish.

The England international has been linked with a move away from Merseyside following reports of a falling out between Gerrard and Reds boss Rafael Benitez at half-time of Liverpool’s FA Cup defeat to Reading last week.

However, Gerrard (66/1 to be topscorer at the World Cup) has now followed in his manager’s footsteps by laughing off rumours of a bust-up, claiming the stories were ‘just daft’.

“Nothing happened, that’s an absolute fact. But if anyone thinks this nonsense unsettles either me or the club then they’re mistaken, if anything it’s brought everyone even closer together because we’ve all had a good laugh about it,” said Gerrard.

“The important thing for me now is trying to get myself fit as soon as possible so I can get back to working with the manager and the team to try and improve our situation.”

The Liverpool skipper will miss Wednesday night’s game against Tottenham (2/1 in the 90 minute betting) as the Reds look to close the gap on Spurs who currently occupy fourth spot.

Benitez will also be without Yossi Benayoun and Fernando Torres (9/2 to be the Premier League’s top goalscorer) as they look to gain a measure of revenge following their 2-1 defeat to Tottenham on the opening day of the season.

Don’t forget to check out Totesport.com’s extensive football betting options for Wednesday’s Premier League and Carling Cup matches.

Liverpool head to Stoke for Saturday lunchtime’s Premier League clash without three of their best players in the shape of Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun.

Injury was added to insult in midweek when Championship strugglers Reading dumped the Reds out of the FA Cup at Anfield, with Torres (knee), Gerrard (hamstring) and Benayoun (rib) all picking up significant problems.

The trio join full-back Glen Johnson and midfielder Javier Mascherano on the sidelines for the trip to the Britannia Stadium (Stoke 11/4, the draw 23/10, Liverpool 5/6).

New signing Maxi Rodriguez should at least make the bench providing he receives international clearance in time.

The Potters will give Tuncay a late fitness test on a hamstring problem while manager Tony Pulis will hope to be able to call on goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen after a finger injury.

Stoke on Friday pulled out of a loan swoop on Portsmouth for former Liverpool keeper David James after the deal missed Friday’s noon deadline to be available this weekend.

If Tuncay scores first in the match, Totesport will refund all losing first goalscoring bets! See terms and conditions.

Fernando Torres has demanded Liverpool treat the FA Cup seriously (Liverpool 6/1 FA Cup - Outright) and believes winning the famous old domestic competition would represent a successful season.

The Merseysiders, out of the Champions League and off the pace if the race for a top-four Premier League place, face Reading (Liverpool 1/5 draw 11/2 Reading 12/1 - FA Cup match betting) in an FA Cup third-round replay at Anfield on Wednesday.

Rafael Benitez has challenged his players to give the competition the respect it merits and Spain striker Torres is in no doubt winning the FA Cup could be the catalyst Liverpool require to get back among the Premier League powerhouses.

He said: “In this country it is the most important trophy after the title. If we won it then we would play in the Community Shield.

“Winning gives you the chance to get more honours and that should always be our aim.”

Kop favourite Torres says securing a coveted Champions League spot for next season has to be the priority for Liverpool – but not at the expense of wining the FA Cup.

He added: “Of course we want to finish in the top four too. If we could do that and win the cup, it would be the best season we’ve had for the last three or four years.”

Don’t miss your chance to check out Totesport.com’s FA Cup third-round coupon and ante-post football betting opportunities.

Rafael Benitez has dropped the strongest possible hint that Liverpool may have to consider selling star players such as Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres (Liverpool 66/1 Premier League - Outright).

Anfield skipper Gerrard almost left his hometown club in 2005 when Liverpool accepted a £30m offer from Premier League rivals Chelsea, while super-rich Manchester City have been credited with an interest in Spain striker Torres (3/1 Premier League - Top Goalscorer).

Benitez has admitted he would quit Liverpool if countryman Torres was sold against his wishes, but failure to deliver on his promise of Champions League football next season could mean he has to balance the books.

Tottenham, Aston Villa and City have reignited the race for the top four this season and Benitez has given his first public indication that he may reluctantly have to consider offers for his star assets if the five-time European champions miss out.

He said: “I’ve said before I want to keep the best players here because that means we can be closer to the top four. They are the most important.

“We gave extensions to players because we want to keep the squad together.”

He added: “If you ask any manager in the world they will tell you they want more money and want to spend but at this moment we have to do what’s best for the club. That means managing the situation for each player and see what happens.”

Don’t miss your chance to check out Totesport.com’s Premier League coupons and ante-post football betting opportunities.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admits the Reds’ last-gasp win at Aston Villa will mean nothing unless they can back it up next month.

The Anfield outfit are now four points off fourth-placed Tottenham as they bid to fulfil boss Rafa Benitez’s prophecy of a top-four Premier League finish with the Merseysiders looking to return to the Champions League next season.

Liverpool needed an injury-time winner from Fernando Torres (11/4 Premier League Top Goalscorer) to beat Villa 1-0 at Villa Park on Tuesday night – and so gain revenge for the defeat at Anfield at the start of the campaign – but the game’s only goal had as much to do with the home side’s sloppy defending as anything else.

Nevertheless, Gerrard was delighted to see the side fight until the very last minute.

He told Sky Sports: “That’s what football’s about. You’ve got to keep going until the end and when you’ve got guys like (Torres) there’s always a chance.

“When he’s on form he’s the best in the world.”

Gerrard added: “It’s important to build on this. I’m sure we’ll gain a lot of confidence from this and there’s no excuses now. We’ve got to win games.”

Spanish boss Rafa Benitez revealed post-match that Torres is carrying an ankle problem in addition to his long-standing groin trouble which could see the Spain star rested for the FA Cup third-round tie at Reading (Liverpool 11/2 FA Cup Outright Winners).

Right-back Glen Johnson was forced off at Villa Park with a knee injury and is also a doubt for the clash with the Royals who are struggling for form in the Championship.

Liverpool’s star duo of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres have joined forces to offer support to under-fire manager Rafa Benitez.

The Reds have endured a miserable season to date after crashing out of the Champions League into the Europa League (Liverpool 13/2 favourites) , while they are also well off the pace in the Premier League title race.

Spanish boss Benitez has already vowed to guide Liverpool into the top four  in order to return to the Champions League next season – and Gerrard and Torres reckon he should get the chance to finish the job.

Skipper Gerrard said: “Obviously the managers carry the can for the whole team because they’re the boss but we’re all responsible for what’s going on.

“We all need to step up. I don’t think it’s right to pick out individual players. We’re a team and we are responsible for where we’re lying in the league at the moment.”

Spain striker Torres feels sacking Benitez is not the answer to the side’s woes after a run of just three wins in 12 games in all competitions.

He added: “We have to play much better. The players are the people that have to find a solution to the situation.”

“It’s a difficult situation but every top team in the world goes sometimes through a bad situation like Liverpool now.

“Like every top team in the world, Liverpool will get over the situation.”

Liverpool (1/4 to win) entertain Wolves (8/1) at Anfield on Boxing Day.

Star striker Fernando Torres admits Liverpool must now fully focus on the Europa League (7/1 Outright) and FA Cup (11/2 Outright) as they bid to end the season with some silverware.

The Reds are out of the Champions League and marooned in seventh place in the Premier League – 12 points behind leaders Chelsea – and Torres knows they must re-focus to avoid ending the campaign empty-handed.

Liverpool will discover their Europa opponents in the last 32 next Friday although they will not be seeded, while Rafa Benitez’s men kick off the new year with a cup clash at Reading.

And Torres told Sky Sports: “This season is not the season we were expecting at the beginning of the season, but these things happen.

“We were thinking of trophies, first choice was the Champions League and the Premier League - we are out of the Champions League, and we are really far out from the Premier League, so we now change our targets.

“We have to think the Europa League and FA Cup are the two competitions we can win this season and obviously trying to stay in the top four.”

Torres looks set to start against Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday when the Reds entertain Arsene Wenger’s side in the league.

The former Atletico Madrid hitman scored twice in the fixture last season but Andrei Arshavin (13/2 First Goalscorer) stole the headlines with all of the Gunners’ goals in a 4-4 draw.