Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, whose side travel to Chelsea tomorrow.

If their pre-season plans had worked, Liverpool would have been looking to stamp their authority on the battle for the Premier League trophy.

Now they find themselves out of the title race and engaged in a cut-throat four-way battle to finish fourth in the table.

The latest trouble to hit Benitez is that the round of international fixtures has cost Liverpool their top scorer Fernando Torres.

He tore his hamstring in Spain's 1-0 win over France on Wednesday, and will be out for the next 10 days.

Benitez also accused Argentina and Guatemala of greed for staging a friendly in Los Angeles.

'We should not have had international friendlies this week,' he said. 'We have lost Torres, and Javier Mascherano is not due back until Friday after playing for Argentina in Los Angeles.

'It is a busy period for the clubs, so it is not fair.

'It doesn't matter if the national associations pay money if you have a player injured. We have three important games in three different competitions in 10 days, and we have lost Torres and maybe other players.'

Mascherano played for Argentina's Olympic team against Guatemala. Argentina won 5-0.

Benitez said: 'Why do they have to play in Los Angeles? Just money.

'With the danger of jet lag, I will have to see if I can use Javier against Chelsea.'

Torres - with 18 goals this season - joins Daniel Agger, Andriy Voronin, Alvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Aurelio in the treatment room, while midfielder Xabi Alonso is unavailable through suspension.

Given the absence of Torres, whose first goal for the Reds came against Chelsea earlier in the season, Benitez will have to start with Peter Crouch.

The manager has been reluctant to use the English striker and wants to sell him at the end of the season.

But the lanky player is relishing the chance to help Liverpool finally get a Premier League win on the ground of a top-three club for the first time under Benitez.

Liverpool have lost only one of their last 11 games, but that hardly tells the story of a side with their confidence shredded.

They produced depressing draws with Wigan, Derby, Middlesbrough, Luton and Aston Villa, before losing at West Ham.

Last weekend's 3-0 victory over Sunderland was much needed, but the true test will be at the fortress of Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea are unbeaten since 2004.

Chelsea's Frank Lampard has recovered from a thigh injury and may play.

They also have Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel back from African Cup of Nations duty.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Chelsea v Liverpool
Live, Ch27 & Ch303, tomorrow, 11.55pm