Benayoun and Rieira set for sidelines

Liverpool duo Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera could both be out of action for a minimum of three weeks with hamstring injuries.

Both players limped out of Monday’s English Premier League draw against Birmingham at Anfield, joining the Merseysiders’ growing injury list.

Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson also suffered injuries against Birmingham while Liverpool’s leading stars of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres still have fitness concerns.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said of Benayoun and Riera: “We will have to wait and see how they progress but hopefully in three weeks they could be available.

“We are disappointed because there are too many things at the moment that we can’t change,” the Spaniard also told Liverpool’s official website.

“Both players are wingers as well and for them to be out at the same time is bad news for us.”

He added: “Daniel Agger felt something in his back after the Birmingham game and didn’t go with Denmark after we spoke with their doctor and manager.

“I think he could be back training again in a few days,” explained Benitez, whose side have won just one of their last nine matches in all competitions.

“Glen Johnson’s was a strange situation because he finished the game on Monday and then travelled to London to be with England.

“He felt something in his hamstring and came back to us for a scan. Hopefully it’s not too serious and he could be available again in a week.”

Torres didn’t play against Birmingham but Gerrard, also struggling with a groin injury, came off the bench to score the equalising goal in a 2-2 draw.

“With Fernando Torres we are talking about two or three weeks of treatment and working with the physios,” Benitez said.

“I was talking with him this morning and he is doing well. Hopefully he can be running in a few days and we will see how he progresses.

“It was good to have Steven Gerrard back on Monday night. He is feeling okay and should be training fully with the other players we have here in a few days.

“Sometimes a break (for international matches) comes at a bad time because you don’t like to see your players flying all over the world, but this time it gives us a chance to get some players back.”