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Injuries cost Liverpool serious title tilt - Zola

Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres have both missed chunks of the season © Getty Images

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Gianfranco Zola has sided with Rafael Benitez on the eve of West Ham's trip to Liverpool, claiming injuries robbed the Spaniard of a serious attack on the Premier League title.

Zola's words could not have been more timely, given that Fernando Torres has just been ruled out for the rest of the season by knee surgery. "El Nino" will miss the Reds' remaining four league fixtures, not to mention their Uefa Cup semi-final tie with Atletico Madrid.

Torres has made just 20 Premier League starts this season, scoring 18 goals, while Benitez has also had to cope without big-money summer additions Glen Johnson and Alberto Aquilani for large periods of the season. The result is the very real prospect of missing out on the Champions League next year, with Spurs currently eight points clear of the Reds, but Zola has sympathy.

"[Torres and Gerrard] are massive players for them," he said Zola. "When they are on the pitch it is a big difference. They are important players for the team.

"It is a pity for them that they didn't have them for much of the season, they have had so many injuries. Their problems this season lie with that."

Torres scored twice when the two teams met at Upton Park earlier in the season, but it was the late introduction of Ryan Babel that made a telling impact as Liverpool won 3-2. The Dutch winger will be expected to feature with Dirk Kuyt a possible stand-in for Torres up front.

West Ham are still without Scott Parker as he completes a suspension, and the Hammers know a point at Anfield could be vital to their survival plight as Hull sit three points adrift in 18th position. Fulham came away with a 0-0 draw in Liverpool's most recent outing, and Zola's side are in good form after taking four points from games with Everton and Sunderland.

"The confidence is certainly higher than before but I am not complacent," Zola said. "I know what this season has been like. I will keep the pressure on the players and make sure they have the right attention when they go on the pitch on Monday. The only way to get out of this is to have a fighting spirit and that still remains.

"That is the good thing about football. Sometimes situations change quickly. We have just worked hard and have spent more time on the organisation of the team and more defensive work. That has produced some good results.

"Everyone is pulling in the same direction. The players in the team and those that are injured, they are all really focused on getting the best out of the season. They really want this team to stay up and do well."

Dirk Kuyt has weighed in with 11 goals for Liverpool this season, back him at 21/1 to score the only goal of the match with Stan James.

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