The Spain striker must be considered a major doubt for Liverpool's Barclays Premier League home match against Manchester United on 13th September and faces a race to be fit for the Reds' Champions League opener at Marseille three days later.

limped off

Torres limped off in the goalless draw at Aston Villa on Sunday and has been withdrawn from the Spain squad ahead of their World Cup qualifiers against Bosnia and Armenia.

A Liverpool spokesman said: "A scan this afternoon has confirmed a hamstring tear in Fernando's right leg. He is expected to be out for between two and three weeks."