FEARS over the fitness of Fernando Torres were realised yesterday when the striker was ruled out of Liverpool’s showdown with Manchester United later this month.

Torres will be sidelined for up to three weeks after scans revealed a hamstring tear in the player’s right leg.

Concerns were raised when the 24-year-old limped off during the first half of Liverpool’s goalless draw at Aston Villa on Sunday.

And the gloomy diagnosis means Torres is now expected to miss the visit of champions United on September 13.

With skipper Steven Gerrard already facing a race against time to be fit for the meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson’s men having undergone two groin operations, the absence of Torres is a major headache for Rafael Benitez.

Torres has already withdrawn from the Spain squad for their forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Bosnia and Armenia.

And a Liverpool spokesperson said yesterday: “A scan this afternoon has confirmed a hamstring tear in Fernando’s right leg. He is expected to be out for between two and three weeks.”

An absence of three weeks would also rule Torres out of the opening Champions League group stage game in Marseille on September 16.

Torres netted a memorable goal in the Stade Velodrome during Liverpool’s decisive 4-0 win last December.

Meanwhile, Dirk Kuyt has praised the manner in which Benitez’s side responded to the loss of Torres to dig in and secure a creditable point at Villa Park over the weekend.

“We did not create as much as we would have liked but we were very solid in defence and everyone worked really hard to make sure we came away with something,” said the Holland international.

“Of course it was a big blow to lose Fernando so early on because everyone knows how important he is to us.

“He is one of the best players in the world so you are always going to suffer if he has to leave the field.

“But after Fernando went off we regrouped and showed a lot of character and I think we deserved a draw.

“It was always going to be difficult because Aston Villa are a good team and they are always tough opponents on their own ground.”