Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, says he must get the best out of Steven Gerrard's partnership with Fernando Torres for the side in order to make a genuine impact on the final stages of the Champions League.
Gerrard scored the only goal in Wednesday night's Group D win over Marseille, a result that ensured the Anfield club's qualification for the last 16. Benitez, though, does not feel Torres' involvement is working as well tactically as it did last season, when the Spaniard hit 33 goals and Gerrard chipped in with 21.
However, Torres' immediate involvement has again been handicapped by a hamstring injury. A strain sustained against the French side will keep him out for two to three weeks, having only just returned from five weeks on the sidelines with a similar complaint.
"Clearly the main thing was to do the job, win and progress,"
Benitez said. "But we did not control the game and did not play well. We were too excited, we wanted to score the second with one pass. Maybe we should have passed more and been patient, and then find Torres. But we were trying to use him too quickly, the ball was hit straight up to him, and meant we kept conceding possession.
"Sometimes he was in good positions but the passes were poor, sometimes he could not get into the right place for good passes."
He added: "We have time on our side. We can manage our squad, we can try to keep picking up wins in the Premier League and be in a better shape for the Champions League when it starts again in February.
"Gerrard is one of the best offensive midfielders in the world, he is always a threat. As is Torres. But maybe if the team play a little bit better, they will score a lot of goals together.
Meanwhile, UEFA will make a decision today on what action against Marseille after a missile was thrown during the match at Gerrard.
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