Torres faces three-week lay-off

Torres had to be substituted in the first-half at Aston Villa

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is expected to be out for two to three weeks with a hamstring tear.

Torres, 24, limped off against Aston Villa on Sunday and has withdrawn from Spain's squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Bosnia and Armenia.

He is a major doubt for Liverpool's Premier League home match against Manchester United on 13 September.

But Liverpool's game against Marseille in the Champions League three days later is a more realistic target.

"A scan this afternoon has confirmed a hamstring tear in Fernando's right leg," said a club spokesman.

"He is expected to be out for between two and three weeks."

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Torres was a revelation in his first year at Liverpool last season, scoring 33 goals after signing from Atletico Madrid for £26.5m.

The Euro 2008 winner has already made a significant contribution this term, scoring the winner in Liverpool's 1-0 victory at Sunderland.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is also injured at present, though manager Rafa Benitez is optimistic both players will not be out for too long.

"That should be the same as Gerrard. Of course it hurts us to lose a player of Torres quality, but we have to wait," he said, prior to Monday's announcement.