Rafael Benítez's conviction that Liverpool are over the worst of a turbulent season gained further credence today when Fernando Torres returned to full training for the first time in four weeks. The club are confident their leading goalscorer will be available for Saturday's visit to Blackburn Rovers.
Torres last appeared for Liverpool in the damaging Champions League draw in Lyon on 4 November, in an 87-minute display that was his longest outing since suffering what was eventually diagnosed as a hernia with Spain a month earlier. After the game, and with Liverpool reluctant to resort to surgery, the 25-year-old sought a second opinion from a trusted specialist in Valencia, Dr Ramón Cugat, who ordered the striker to rest and receive physiotherapy for three weeks.
The Spain international had only taken part in the occasional light training session before tomorrow's full work-out, and aimed to return for Sunday's Merseyside derby win at Everton only to complain of discomfort on the morning of the game. Liverpool will continue to handle his recovery carefully, with the temptation to rush his comeback arguably eased by an unbeaten sequence of four matches in his absence, but his availability is a major lift to Benítez as he targets a sustained push towards the Champions League places.
The Liverpool manager and several of his players have spoken of Sunday's 2-0 win at Goodison Park as a possible turning point in their season and, with the captain, Steven Gerrard, slowly regaining match fitness plus Alberto Aquilani finally available for selection following ankle surgery, Benítez could have a full squad available for Saturday's game at Ewood Park.
Liverpool's co-owner George Gillett, meanwhile, has banked a $300m [£180m] profit from the sale of his Montreal Canadiens ice hockey franchise, which has now been approved by the National Hockey League. Gillett's windfall, however, is not expected to see him gain majority control of Liverpool or improve Benítez's budget for the January transfer window.
The businessman decided to sell his ice hockey franchise last year to ease pressure on his diverse range of interests and, despite enduring a fractured relationship with his Anfield co-owner Tom Hicks, the pair are under instruction from the Royal Bank of Scotland to attract third-party investors to Liverpool and reduce the club's debt.
Hicks and Gillett are continuing to search for new investors willing to meet their asking price of £100m for a 25% stake in Liverpool, with the former also seeking investors in his Dallas Stars NHL franchise.
Torres last appeared for Liverpool in the damaging Champions League draw in Lyon on 4 November, in an 87-minute display that was his longest outing since suffering what was eventually diagnosed as a hernia with Spain a month earlier. After the game, and with Liverpool reluctant to resort to surgery, the 25-year-old sought a second opinion from a trusted specialist in Valencia, Dr Ramón Cugat, who ordered the striker to rest and receive physiotherapy for three weeks.
The Spain international had only taken part in the occasional light training session before tomorrow's full work-out, and aimed to return for Sunday's Merseyside derby win at Everton only to complain of discomfort on the morning of the game. Liverpool will continue to handle his recovery carefully, with the temptation to rush his comeback arguably eased by an unbeaten sequence of four matches in his absence, but his availability is a major lift to Benítez as he targets a sustained push towards the Champions League places.
The Liverpool manager and several of his players have spoken of Sunday's 2-0 win at Goodison Park as a possible turning point in their season and, with the captain, Steven Gerrard, slowly regaining match fitness plus Alberto Aquilani finally available for selection following ankle surgery, Benítez could have a full squad available for Saturday's game at Ewood Park.
Liverpool's co-owner George Gillett, meanwhile, has banked a $300m [£180m] profit from the sale of his Montreal Canadiens ice hockey franchise, which has now been approved by the National Hockey League. Gillett's windfall, however, is not expected to see him gain majority control of Liverpool or improve Benítez's budget for the January transfer window.
The businessman decided to sell his ice hockey franchise last year to ease pressure on his diverse range of interests and, despite enduring a fractured relationship with his Anfield co-owner Tom Hicks, the pair are under instruction from the Royal Bank of Scotland to attract third-party investors to Liverpool and reduce the club's debt.
Hicks and Gillett are continuing to search for new investors willing to meet their asking price of £100m for a 25% stake in Liverpool, with the former also seeking investors in his Dallas Stars NHL franchise.
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