Liverpool manager Hodgson pinning hopes on Torres

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson hopes Fernando Torres will be fit to face West Ham next weekend despite another injury setback.

The Spain forward sustained an ankle problem in the 2-0 defeat at Stoke on Saturday, which ended Liverpool’s six-match unbeaten run.

World Cup winner Torres has been hampered by injuries once again this season but had scored three goals in his previous two matches.

The key Reds player struggled at the Britannia Stadium but wanted to play on despite the knock.

“We missed Fernando in the second half after the kick he took,” Hodgson said.

“He didn’t want to come off and I didn’t want to take him off because you don’t want to take your goalscorer off when you need a goal. But I don’t think he was firing on all cylinders.

“I don’t think it’s too serious. It was a nasty knock he took but he wanted to carry on. We offered him the chance to come off but he wasn’t interested in that.”

Liverpool slipped to a fifth English Premier League defeat of the campaign and Hodgson admitted he was frustrated to see that run ended.

“We’ve had a good run and played some good football in that run,” he said.

“It was a different type of game to the games we’ve played because of the way Stoke are set up to play the game poses certain problems for any team that comes here.

“We’re realistic, we know we’ve got a lot of work to do, we’ve got to get some players back to fitness, we’ll keep working at our game and we’re very sad to lose the game and the good run.”

Liverpool supporters once again sang the name of title-winning former manager Kenny Dalglish as their side slipped to defeat.

But Hodgson insisted he is not too concerned about the reaction of the supporters after a difficult start to his Anfield reign.

Asked if the singing disappointed him, he said: “I suppose it does. That seems to be part of the life at Liverpool and I think we’re trying to do the best job we can in the circumstances.

“I don’t know if that type of singing or chanting helps anybody but I didn’t hear it and I’m sure there are lots of fans who sympathise with what we’re trying to do.”

Ricardo Fuller’s third goal of the season gave Stoke the lead in the 56th minute and after Kenwyne Jones scored a second in the closing stages, Lucas was sent off for Liverpool.

The Brazilian midfielder will now miss the game against West Ham at Anfield next weekend.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis felt the victory was an indication of how far his side have come as they embark on their third season in the Premier League.

“We’ve created more opportunities and chances his year in every game we’ve played in comparison with previous years,” he said.

“With Matthew Etherington and Jermaine Pennant you are going to stretch teams. We’re more expansive but we kept a clean sheet.

“We want that balance between being open and clean sheets but when you play against Premier League teams they have people who can punish you if you open up too much.

“This is my third year in it and you get highs and lows and everyone gets carried away with good results and poor results.

“In a three-game week when you’ve got to play one of the top sides in the country at the end of it we showed passion, commitment and energy and deserved the victory.”