FERNANDO TORRES has undergone tests at a Liverpool hospital on the serious groin injury which is threatening to ruin his season.

The Spanish striker played 87 minutes of Liverpool’s 1-1 Champions League draw with Lyon on Wednesday, a result which virtually ends their hopes of progress from into the last 16.

Torres played with pain throughout the match, before flying back with Liverpool yesterday morning.

He then attended a Liverpool hospital where more tests were carried out on his injury.

Manager Rafael Benitez fears that Torres will eventually need an operation on what he describes as a ‘‘poor man’s hernia.’’ However, Liverpool are loathe to go down that route until every other avenue has been explored.

If Torres has an operation he could be out until after Christmas, and any further problems could even affect his participation in the World Cup finals for Spain.

A Liverpool spokesman said: ‘‘Fernando attended a Liverpool hospital for further tests. It is nothing more dramatic than that, it is just further tests as part of his rehabilitation programme.’’ Benitez said after the draw in Lyon: ‘‘Fernando played with pain, and after the game he still had the same problem that has troubled him for a few weeks.

‘‘He wants to wait, rather than have an operation.

Whether there is the need for him or Steve Gerrard (groin) to have surgery is a decision we will not take straight away.”