Liverpool likely to be without Fernando Torres for Merseyside derby

Roy Hodgson's problems at Liverpool show no sign of abating after Fernando Torres was diagnosed with an adductor strain that makes him highly doubtful for the Merseyside derby at Everton on 17 October. The Liverpool striker limped out of Sunday's home defeat by Blackpool after just nine minutes to prompt his withdrawal from the Spain squad to face Lithuania and Scotland in the Euro 2012 qualifiers. A scan this afternoon confirmed Torres suffered a strain rather than a tear but, having damaged his left adductor in the World Cup final and previously struggled with a hernia, Liverpool will not rush the striker's recovery, even for a game of huge importance for their beleaguered manager. "Fernando was assessed earlier today at Melwood and underwent a scan this afternoon," said Dr Peter Brukner, Liverpool's head of sports medicine and sports science. "He will have intensive treatment over the next couple of weeks but it is too early to say if he will be fit for the game against Everton." Only last week Hodgson declared Torres fully fit following two knee operations earlier in the year plus his World Cup injury, and his absence at Goodison Park would be a serious setback for a side mired in the relegation zone. Meanwhile, the former Liverpool goalkeeper Ray Clemence has insisted pressure on Hodgson is premature and unfair despite the club's worst start to a season since 1953-54 and Sunday's defeat prompting the Kop to call for Kenny Dalglish. "I can't believe that two months into the season people are questioning the man," said Clemence. "He's managed and coached at the highest level and over-achieved with the Swiss national side. He's coached in different places in Europe, made Fulham into an excellent side and took them to a place where they'd never been in their history. Are we now judging a manager on two or three months? That's a sad state of affairs. He is the right man." Hodgson accepted responsibility for Liverpool's miserable start after Sunday's loss, describing the current situation as "very, very bleak", and Clemence believes the 63-year-old has not been helped by the on-going ownership saga. He added: "The problem for Roy is that he came in a little bit too late with very little money to spend. I'm sure he knows the changes that need to be made, but his hands are tied probably until Christmas. Until they get the club sorted out in terms of who's going to own it, where the money's going to come from and allow him to spend some money that needs to be spent then it's going to be difficult. "I could never have imagined Liverpool would be in this position but Roy is a very experienced manager and admitted at the weekend this isn't good enough. All he can do is work as hard as he can to get the best out of what he has. It's been painfully clear to most people that they are short in a number of positions."