Fernando Torres

FERNANDO TORRES is a major doubt for Liverpool's meeting with West Ham at Anfield tonight, having picked up a bug.

The Reds' top scorer was absent from training yesterday and unless he makes a dramatic recovery is unlikely to be involved against the Hammers.

If, as expected, Torres is unavailable, manager Rafa Benitez is likely to offer a first team recall to Peter Crouch, who has had to settle for a place on the bench in recent weeks.

Should Liverpool win tonight they will go above Everton into fourth place in the Premier League and Benitez today called on his players to take advantage of their game in hand on their Merseyside rivals.