Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has spoken to Spain officials team to ensure Fernando Torres does not run the risk of picking up an injury on international duty this week.

Torres is away with Spain for today's friendly with Macedonia, with Benitez clearly hoping he returns with no injury problems for the start of the Barclays Premier League season this weekend.

The Reds hitman saw lasy season's campaign blighted by a series of injuries picked up while playing for Spain and Benitez is keen to avoid a repeat.

Torres had a busy summer having featured for Spain at the Confederations Cup and Benitez is hoping to have the striker firing on all cylinders this season.

"We would like to take things carefully and ease him back in, but of course it is now out of control because he is with Spain," Benitez told The Mirror.

"It is hard to say where he is at, but he came back very late because he was with Spain in such an important tournament. I can say he has not had enough training and then he scores two goals.

"But equally I can I say he has had enough time and he misses three chances, and then you will have he has not had enough training and he is not fit.

"He has gone with the national team and we are talking with the staff to make sure they do the right things with him. That is all we can hope."

Goalkeeper Jose Reina, meanwhile, believes Liverpool will struggle to replace Xabi Alonso after Real Madrid finally captured the Spaniard in a €35million deal following a long-running transfer saga.

The Reds have signed Italy international Alberto Aquilani as a replacement, but Reina admits the void left by his fellow Spaniard will be difficult to fill.

Reina said in the Daily Star: "It is very difficult to find a player like Xabi.

"He is like a fabulous orchestra conductor on the pitch.

"Of the central midfielders in the world it is very difficult to find one as complete as Alonso.

"He can do everything. He can play short passes, long passes, he heads it well and he is tactically very astute."