Fernando Torres will put his World Cup dream on the line in an attempt to drag Liverpool out of the mire.
The Spanish striker is ready to delay an operation to continue playing during a crisis time for the Anfield club.
Manager Rafa Benitez has revealed that Torres has still not recovered fully from the abdominal injury which has blighted his season, and caused him to miss much of November.
The Liverpool boss explained that his star striker needs constant treatment as he strives to recover from the injury which is a major threat to his season in what is a vital World Cup year.
Torres could undergo an operation immediately to resolve the problem, which would leave him clear to go to South Africa with Spain.
But instead, he is ready to risk the possibility of being injured in June, when the Finals come around, as he refuses to go under the knife now in an attempt to help Liverpool through the crucial Christmas programme.
“We know it is difficult for Fernando, and we have to do it a different way with him. If he is OK, we can give him time, if he feels something, we have to rest him,” Benitez explained.
Source: mirrorfootball.co.uk
“We have to manage his injury. He could manage a full Christmas programme, but we will see if he can start.
“Yesterday he was fine, sometimes he can play and after the game, you never know. You don’t know if a game is easy or difficult, so we have to carry on and manage his treatment to see how he responds.”
Benitez has taken extensive medical advice from experts, and the consensus is that the striker can play on if he receives constant treatment from the physios as he attempts to strengthen the area around his abdomen weakened by the injury.