RAFAEL BENITEZ insists Liverpool possess the quality to cope without Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

But privately the Reds boss is fuming that his star men have returned from international duty with injuries.

The Spanish manager has had to revise his plans for the match at Sunderland today, with the unavailability of Gerrard and Torres coming at a bad time as Liverpool try to re-ignite their season.

Defeat at Chelsea in their last outing was a third of the season in the Barclays Premier League for Liverpool, and Sunderland will be determined to heap more misery on their visitors at the Stadium of Light.

Benitez will not go public with any criticism, but there is little doubt he feels the pressures of international football, with the World Cup finals only eight months away, are telling.

Benitez said: ‘‘I cannot change the situation, so I just prefer to concentrate on the players I do have and to prepare for the matches.

‘‘What we do not have is control in such a situation. It does not matter whether teams have qualified or not, they will still insists that their players are released.

‘‘The World Cup is coming, so we must wait and hope they all return. There is still one more international date next month so the same thing will happen again.’’ Liverpool have discovered with their own scan that Gerrard’s groin injury is worse than England realised. Torres has a similar problem.

Benitez hopes the pair will have recovered to face Lyon at home in the Champions League on Tuesday, but clearly that is also in doubt.

The Reds manager said: ‘‘Both are not ready yet, but hopefully (they will be available) for the next game against Lyon. The physios are working very hard on them.

‘‘We have quality in the squad and we will have to manage with different players and a different style.

‘‘It is always difficult to keep all of your players fit in international breaks, but there is nothing we can do about the situation, we have to cope with the outcomes.

‘‘I would prefer to see internationals played on a Tuesday to give players the chance to get back for the next Saturday, or if it is a double-header the games should be on Wednesday first with the second game on the Saturday. That gives everyone more chance.’’ Dirk Kuyt, recovered from an ankle injury he sustained on international duty with Holland in Australia, will probably lead the attack in Torres’ absence, with compatriot Ryan Babel and Ukraine striker Andriy Voronin also in line for roles in the side.

Benitez believes Liverpool can handle the problem, saying: ‘‘We can win without them Gerrard and Torres.

‘‘We have good players in the squad who can come in.

There are players who have been training well and waiting for their opportunity. Well now it has come and they can take their chance.’’