Liverpool To Consider Offers For Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres

For the first time ever, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has conceded the Anfield club will have to consider bids for superstar duo Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres .

Since accepting that £30million bid from Chelsea for captain Gerrard back in 2005, Benitez has insisted he would never even entertain the thought of selling one of his prized assets.

The other star asset for the Reds, Spain striker Fernando Torres, has become one of the greatest strikers in World Football since his arrival on Merseyside, with Benitez previously claiming he would quit the Reds if the forward was allowed to leave.

But now it appears things could take a turn for the worse for Liverpool, as they already languish seventh in Premier League , below Aston Villa , Manchester City , and Tottenham Hotspur , and are level on points with Birmingham City .

Benitez has given the first indication that the five-time European champions would be forced to consider offers due to their lack of funds, although the Spanish tactician does not expect the scenario to materialise.

When asked about selling Gerrard and Torres, the Liverpool boss said, "We would have a conversation and decide what's the best for the club.

"I've said before I want to keep the best players here, because that means we can be closer to the top four. They are the most important. We gave extensions to players because we want to keep the squad together.

"If you ask any manager in the world they will tell you they want more money and want to spend, but at this moment we have to do what's best for the club. That means managing the situation for each player and see what happens."

Such news could alert the likes of cash-rich superpowers like the aforementioned Manchester City, who had a bid for Fernando Torres rebuffed by the Reds last summer, and Real Madrid , as well as other clubs who expressed an interest, such as AC Milan and FC Barcelona .

Chelsea could also be interested in either of Liverpool's two most vitally important players, having been linked with Torres before and having been known to be admirers of Steven Gerrard.

And most recently, Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan were reportedly set to make a £40million bid for England star Gerrard.  

In any case, if Liverpool were to sell either player, it would be a massive boost for their finances, but could well do some colossal damage on the pitch.

Rafa Benitez has previously stated his guarantee that the Merseyside outfit will secure a place in next season's UEFA Champions League , but with their close Premier League rivals getting stronger, that guarantee could be reduced to nothing should Liverpool get any weaker.