Steven Gerrard limped out of Liverpool’s FA Cup defeat at the hands of local rivals Everton at Goodison Park and onto the treatment table. The diagnosis was not good for Rafa Benitez - his captain is out for three weeks with a torn hamstring.

Gerrard lasted less than 20 minutes of Wednesday’s tie before being replaced by Yossi Benayoun. A scan later revealed that the midfielder had torn his right hamstring will miss Liverpool’s games against Portsmouth and Manchester City. The injury will also rule him out of England’s friendly international against Spain. What will concern the Reds most of all is that Gerrard may not make the first leg of the Champions League tie at the Bernabeu against the mighty Real Madrid.

Fernando Torres also departed the Goodison pitch early after failing to make an impact. Benitez will be hoping that his decision to allow Robbie Keane to leave will not be one that he comes to regret.