Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez remains hopeful that Fernando Torres will be fit for tomorrow's derby against Everton.

The Spain striker sustained an adductor injury last weekend while on international duty but after returning to Merseyside early his progress has been good.

"Yesterday he was training with the ball and the physios. Hopefully today he will be better and then we have another day so we will wait and see," said Benitez.

"I need to decide if he is really fit or will be a risk. In this case maybe it is not a risk."

The Liverpool boss said he had spoken to Torres about the significance of a match against their neighbours from across Stanley Park and had tried to relate it to the player's experience in his homeland with Atletico Madrid.

"I was talking to Torres about this because if you live in Madrid it (a derby) is very similar," he said.

"It is not the same because it is more physical but the atmosphere in Spain is very similar."