Injury crisis at Anfield

Liverpool are sweating over the fitness of a string of top stars, including Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, ahead of Monday’s clash with Birmingham at Anfield. Torres is still suffering from a groin injury and has been told to rest for three weeks. But such is Liverpool's plight at the moment that the Spanish striker is prepared to play through the pain in order to get their season back on track. Gerrard also has a groin problem and has had a series of pain-killing injections this week in a bid to play. Other players in doubt include Albert Riera (hamstring), Fabio Aurelio (calf) and Martin Skrtel (virus), Glen Johnson (calf) and Martin Kelly (ankle). Jamie Carragher and Philipp Degen are also out through suspension. The Reds, who have lost six of their last eight games, currently trail EPL leaders Chelsea by nine points.