Torres blow behind Reds CL woe

Rafa Benitez believes the absence of Liverpool’s devastating striker Fernando Torres was behind their Champions League disappointment this season. The Reds crashed out of Europe’s premier club competition in the group stage with Torres playing little part due to injury. "In every team if you lose your top scorer, for a lot of games it will cost you," commented Benitez on Wednesday. "We lost a lot of players at the same time, and players with quality - Daniel Agger, Glen Johnson, Yossi Benayoun, Steven Gerrard and Torres - all at the same time. For any team, it is difficult to manage without players, numbers and quality. And it is even more difficult if you lose your striker, who can be such a difference." Torres has struggled with injury for most of the season but may return for Liverpool’s crucial clash with Manchester City on Sunday.