Fernando Torres has only played in nine of Liverpool’s 15 Premier League games this season due to a series of niggling injuries. Despite this, Rafa Benitez’s men top the table as we start to think about what will be a hectic Christmas period for everyone.

Liverpool have five league games in December and three of these come in the space of seven days towards the end of the month. This is significant because it now seems that they are going to have to go into these matches without Senor Torres.

It has been revealed that the Spanish striker will be out for at least another month after his hamstring injury was worse than first feared. Benitez has admitted that they will ‘not rush him back’, meaning that a January return is the most likely scenario.

In the games that Torres has missed so far this season, Liverpool have managed to cope. The Premier League fixtures without Torres have produced four wins, one draw and one defeat, with Liverpool finding the net on eight occasions in Torres’ absence.

Now, Liverpool haven’t exactly been prolific this season – they have scored less than each of the six teams below them in the league. However, the last few games have been particularly quiet in front of goal. A single Steven Gerrard strike to beat Marseille was sandwiched in between two goalless draws against Fulham and West Ham.

Both of these draws were at Anfield and there is no doubt that the football odds backed Liverpool to get the three points on each occasion. Therefore, they have thrown away four points in the last two games. They have thrown away the chance to be five points clear of the chasing pack going into December and they may live to regret it.

In the last four league games that Torres has been missing, Liverpool have only scored three times. Yes, they have managed without him admirably overall, but it is my belief that they need him now more than ever. They need their main man to be in form and scoring goals at this crucial stage of the season – not stuck on the sidelines.

Dirk Kuyt had a decent scoring spell back in October, but it is only two goals in the last ten games for the Dutchman. Then there is Robbie Keane, who has struggled since his move from Spurs – it’s only two league goals all season for him.

Don’t get me wrong, I have been impressed with Liverpool’s title credentials so far this season. However, I do fear for them in the coming weeks as they face a congested set of fixtures without their main goal scoring threat. The Christmas period could make or break their season, because if Liverpool fall behind in the title race, then I won’t be placing any football betting money on them playing catch-up.

They must rely on Kuyt, Keane and Steven Gerrard to grab some crucial goals during December and this could happen, but I just feel that come January there is a distinct possibility that the all too familiar Chelsea-Manchester United top two will be relevant again.