Fernando Torres has undergone tests at a Liverpool hospital on the serious groin injury which is threatening to ruin his season.

The Spanish striker played 87 minutes of Liverpool's 1-1 Champions League draw with Lyon on Wednesday, a result which virtually ends their hopes of progress from Group E into the last 16.

Torres played with pain throughout the match, before flying back with the Liverpool party on Thursday morning.

Later on Thursday he attended a Liverpool hospital where more tests were carried out on his injury.

Manager Rafael Benitez fears that Torres will eventually need an operation on what he describes as a "poor man's hernia."

However, Liverpool are loathe to go down that route until every other avenue has been explored.

If Torres has an operation he could be out until after Christmas, and any further problems could even affect his participation in the World Cup finals for Spain.

A Liverpool spokesman said: "Fernando attended a Liverpool hospital today for further tests.

"It is nothing more dramatic than that, it is just further tests as part of his rehabilitation program."

Benitez said after the draw in Lyon: "Fernando played with pain, and after the game he still had the same problems that have troubled him for a few weeks.

"He wants to wait, rather than have an operation. He wants to work with the physios to try to solve his problems, but still he has pain.

"He told me he needed to keep stopping because of the pain. Whether there is the need for him or Steven Gerrard to have an operation is a decision we will not take straight away.

"We must see how he can improve, and by how much. Then we will decide about any possible operation."

Liverpool will assess the results of the tests before considering any further action.

The Reds have a home league game with Birmingham on Monday and it is unlikely that they will make any decision on an operation before then.

Skipper Steven Gerrard is also facing an operation on his groin problem, but the spokesman said: "Steven continues to progress after more treatment."

Benitez faces the choice of having his two best players under the knife at roughly the same time if they fail to respond enough to treatment.

Liverpool's injury problems meant they were without seven senior men in France, where they almost pulled off a dramatic victory against Lyon.

But after Ryan Babel had grabbed the lead with seven minutes left, Lyon striker Lisandro struck with an equalizer in injury-time that put his own side into the last 16, while leaving Liverpool's hopes of following them hanging by a thread.

They need to win their final two matches away to Debrecen and at home to Fiorentina and hope already-qualified Lyon can do them a favor against the Florence side if they are to have any chance of qualifying.

Four of Liverpool's walking wounded had a light training session today - Glen Johnson, Fabio Aurelio, Martin Skrtel and Nabil El Zhar. Only Skrtel is believed to have a realistic chance of facing Birmingham at Anfield.

(Soccer365.com)

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Fulham winger Clint Dempsey is hoping his side can continue on the positive path they have taken in recent weeks when they visit Roma.

Dempsey knows Thursday's Europa League Group E fixture will be a very tough game for the Cottagers, but he is hoping his side's impressive form can give them an extra morale boost to achieve what would be an important result at the Stadio Olimpico.

"We're unbeaten for the past six games," Dempsey said. "Clearly, the (3-1) win against Liverpool at the weekend and our other positive results gives us confidence and we hope to beat Roma."

Roy Hodgson's side are second in the group, one point behind leaders Basel and one point clear of Roma.

Dempsey, who scored against Liverpool on Saturday, is hoping to make the starting line-up as he did not feature in the 1-1 draw between the two sides last month at Craven Cottage.

"I hope I can play," he said. "But it will be down to the coach.

"We are getting accustomed to play two games every three or four days and it is something you get used to."

Dempsey believes his team has recovered from their disappointing result in London against Claudio Ranieri's outfit.

A last-gasp equalizer from Marco Andreolli denied Fulham three points.

"We took a point against Roma and we will see what happens now.

"We have been on a good run of form and we want to continue to do well and improve."

Dempsey needs no reminder of the importance of this match.

Fulham, who are unbeaten in the competition, host CSKA Sofia next month before their final group game in Switzerland against Hodgson's former side Basel.

"We want to progress to the next round," he said. "A win against Roma would take us one step closer to that aim.

"For everyone in the team, including myself, these type of games are important and you want to play in big games.

"I am enjoying playing and I'm looking forward to this match."

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Didier Drogba acknowledged he is in the best form of his career after helping Chelsea reach the last 16 of the Champions League.

Drogba returned from a three-match European suspension to fire two goals in the last eight minutes and help the Blues come from behind to lead against Atletico Madrid.

But Atletico leveled to make it 2-2 although Drogba's two goals, which take his season's tally to 12, mean Chelsea progress safely from Group D.

And the Ivory Coast international striker, asked afterwards if he was in the form of his life, told Sky Sports: "I think so.

"A few years ago I was playing with the same confidence. It's always easier when you are playing injury-free."

On the late equalizer Drogba continued: "I think we could have done better with the wall and maybe avoided the free-kick.

"It's frustrating to concede a goal like this after the efforts we produced - but it was a good game.

"I've played many Champions League games before but it's good to be on the pitch - I always say I am happy to be on the pitch and playing.

"Madrid had to win so they gave everything but even after they scored we kept pushing and we played even better.

"We scored two goals but it wasn't enough to win the game."

Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti said: "I'm happy because we are in the next phase of the Champions League and this is important.

"It was a difficult match and I think the result is good because Atletico played well.

"They put a lot of pressure on us in first half but I think we did well - not the best but it was good.

"Didier is an important player for us. We have a lot of important players but he is doing very well and we are happy."

Chelsea now turn their attentions to a Barclays Premier League match against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Drogba admitted: "I think we were also thinking about Manchester United tonight but we did everything we had to do today.

"Now we can focus on Sunday because it's very important to beat them (United) at home.

"We have to show different qualities and be better than today. Today was far from a good performance, we played well but were not good enough to win."

Ancelotti denied that Sunday's domestic match distracted his players.

He added on Sky Sports: "The players thought about this game.

"Now we have time to think about Manchester United and we have to prepare well, with calmness, to do our best."

(Soccer365.com)

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Manchester United, Porto, Bordeaux, and Chelsea all qualified for the Champions League last 16 while big names AC Milan, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich are fighting to make the elimination round.

Previous winners Manchester United and Porto were joined by Bordeaux and Chelsea in qualifying for the Champions League last 16 but AC Milan and Real Madrid could yet miss out on progression from the group stages.

Bayern Munich are in danger of missing out in qualification from Group A after Bordeaux claimed a 2-0 win at the Allianz Arena.

The pressure mounted on Bayern coach Louis Van Gaal after strikes from Yoann Gourcuff and Marouane Chamakh secured qualification for Les Girondins, who are unbeaten at the top of the Group A standings.

Juventus are two points behind the French side and four ahead of Bayern following their 1-0 win at Maccabi Haifa, courtesy of Mauro Camoranesi's winner in first-half injury-time.

Chelsea are assured of a place in the knockout stages courtesy of Porto's win over Apoel Nicosia.

The Portuguese side triumphed 1-0 in Cyprus, with Falcao on target six minutes from time.

In Group B behind Manchester United, Wolfsburg are in pole position for second place after a 3-0 win at Besiktas.

European giants AC Milan and Real Madrid, who have won the competition on seven and nine occasions, respectively, shared a 1-1 draw in Group C, with both teams a point above Marseille.

Karim Benzema gave Real the lead in the 29th minute, but Ronaldinho replied with a penalty 10 minutes before the break.

Alexandre Pato had a goal controversially disallowed moments later before Dida denied Raul a late winner in a dramatic game at the San Siro.

Marseille could yet progress at the expense of Milan or Real after a 6-1 defeat of FC Zurich, with two goals in the opening 10 minutes and three in the final 10.

An own-goal from Silvan Aegerter put them on their way before Fabrice Abriel, Mamadou Niang, Vitorino Hilton, Benoit Cheyrou and Brandao were on target. The visitors' Alexandre Alphonse made it 2-1 after 31 minutes.

(Soccer365.com)

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soccerdotcom: New product alert: What Messi will be wearing in South Africa next summer, 2009-11 Argentina Home jersey: http://bit.ly/4c8O6s
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soccerdotcom: @armsbrown Thanks for the feedback. After you play in them a couple times, it'd be great if could add a review for them on the site.
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soccerdotcom: @nathanredd We do, but not allowed to share these before the launch date. I'll post links here as soon as they launch though.
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soccerdotcom: Update on new adidas jerseys. Argentina launches tomorrow. Greece, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, Germany, Spain, Russia & France next week.
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