News and notes

Liverpool have suffered through an injury-plagued disappointing season especially the team's star forward Fernando Torres. Suffering knee problems in January that forced him to miss a month of action, Torres knee problem flared up over the weekend as some feared he would be lost not on for the rest of the English Premier league campaign but also the World Cup.

Apparently those fears can be put to rest. His doctor in Spain, who he has seen for several injury concerns has said Torres could be ready to go by next week. Liverpool will certainly need him back and fit as the Reds again dropped points over the weekend tying Fulham, 0-0 without their prolific goal-scorer.

Liverpool are in dire straights. The club sit in sixth place in the standings four points behind Manchester City, who reside in the last Champions League place in 4th place and have a game in hand on Liverpool, and two points behind Tottenham, who reside in 5th place and have two games in hand on Liverpool. With only four EPL games left to play including one against Chelsea, the club must win every match and hope for some significant help. Without Torres they have no shot.

Van Persie back for Arsenal

After a 5-month injury layoff, Robin Van Persie will finally return to Arsenal following the ankle ligament damage he sustained in a challenge with Giorgio Chiellini vs. Italy.

The timing could not be better for Arsenal, who are still one of only three legitimate sides to be vying for EPL championship. Arsenal are thee points behind Chelsea and just two behind Manchester United, who have played one more game than Arsenal.

Arsenal like many other clubs have suffered enormous injury woes throughout the season and recently lost Cesc Fabregas and William Gallas for the season to injury. Like Van Persie, Arsene Wenger risked bringing Gallas back from a calf injury earlier than anticipated during the team's match with Barcelona, but the gamble back-fired as Gallas had to be stretchered off with the same problem.

However, Wenger is taking the risk again this time with Van Persie because his team have not had the goal-scoring punch he would like, especially now without Fabregas - the team's leading scorer this season.

'There is always a gamble in this kind of decision. But in his (Van Persie's) case we have been a bit more cautious because he has had more time for preparation.

''The biggest gamble I took recently was with Gallas. It didn't work, but he came back from a muscular problem, that is not the case for Robin. It was a joint problem.

''When I pick a player it means he is fit and sharp and has worked very hard. Of course he lacks match-practice but physically he is ready, he is fit.''

Iniesta nightmare campaign continues

Andres Iniesta, who has been a big part of Barcelona and their incredible form in recent seasons helping the team to six trophies last season, has been virtually invisible this season for the Blaugrana this year thanks to injury.

Returning from a recent thigh injury to help Barca defeat bitter rival Real Madrid in the Super Classico this weekend, 2-0, Iniesta suffered a slight tear to his hamstring on Tuesday in training and will now miss another month of action. That would mean he will miss probably the rest of the La Liga season as well as both legs of the Champions League semifinals with Inter Milan.

It could also mean Spain national boss Vincente Del Bosque may choose to overlook Iniesta for a spot on his club as the manager has said he wants all his players to be fully fit by the time he picks his teams for their upcoming friendlies in May.