Liverpool defender Jose Enrique suffered a torn hamstring in Sunday’s 3-0 win over QPR, Reds assistant boss Colin Pascoe has confirmed.

The Spaniard was substituted after pulling up 71 minutes into the game at Loftus Road, which the Merseyside club won thanks to Daniel Agger’s header and a Luis Suarez double.

And Pascoe, who led the team in the absence of the ill Brendan Rodgers, has now conceded that Liverpool may be without the full-back for some time.

“Unfortunately it looks like he’s got a tear in his hamstring,” he told reporters.

“He was terrific today, absolutely superb, and the way he’s been performing these last couple of months has been a joy to watch.

“It’s a shame, and hopefully he’s not out for too long.”

The 26-year-old has appeared in 12 Premier Leagues so far this season.

Steven Gerrard has hailed Luis Suarez as a “magician” after the Uruguayan struck twice to help fire Liverpool to a 3-0 win over QPR on Sunday.

The former Ajax man scored both goals in the opening 20 minutes, taking advantage of some ponderous defending from the Hoops, before Daniel Agger headed home from a corner to complete the scoring.

“He’s been brilliant for us since he came to the club,” Gerrard told Sky Sports. “Week in, week out he shows what a top player he is.

“These players have only got to play against him twice a year, we’ve got to train against him every day, he’s a magician.”

The Reds had it all their own way in the first half, as QPR’s midfield failed to get close to their opponents and their defence could only stand as Suarez played the ball around them, but Gerrard dismissed claims that the game was simple for his side.

“I wouldn’t say it was easy, that’s very disrespectful to QPR but they’re having a tough time at the moment,” he added.

“We knew if we started well we could quieten the crowd and out football would take over and we were probably the best we’ve played so far this season.

“At half-time we wanted more goals but Harry Redknapp’s a top manager he’s not going to not change things.

“He changed things to three at the back and credit to him we found it a lot harder to get through in the second half, but we played well today and deserved the three points.

Brendan Rodgers missed the game after picking up a suspected virus that has also affected other members of the coaching staff and the Liverpool captain dedicated the win to their stricken manager.

“Yeah, it’s tough [without Rodgers], there’s a gap there,” Gerrard explained.  “You can tell when Brendan’s not there, he’s been fantastic since he came in.

“He’s been brilliant to the players and when we knew he wasn’t going to be coming today it was important that we got the three points for him and make sure he’s getting looked after at home and he’ll be happy with the lads today.”

An early flurry of goals, including two for Luis Suarez, saw Liverpool breeze to a 3-0 victory against QPR at Loftus Road on Sunday evening.

Suarez struck twice in the opening 20 minutes before Daniel Agger headed home from a corner in a dominant first half for Liverpool.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers missed the trip through illness so Colin Pascoe took charge, making three changes from Boxing Day’s defeat to Stoke, while the most notable change in four for QPR saw Rob Green dropped after his clanger in defeat to West Brom and replaced by Julio Cesar.

The Reds started brightly and Suarez forced an early save from Cesar with a fierce drive that the Brazilian parried towards Joe Allen, but the Welshman scuffed his volley when following up.

Suarez was not to be denied in the 10th minute, though, as he picked the ball up 30 yards out and drove towards goal, leaving Clint Hill in his wake before calmly slotting home from inside the area.

Six minutes later, Liverpool and Suarez had a second as Stewart Downing released the No.7 down the right and he lashed the ball across the box towards Raheem Sterling. Nedum Onuoha’s last-ditch block ran back to the former Ajax man who swept home from six yards.

The hosts had a strong shout for a handball turned down as Jordan Henderson elbowed Adel Taarabt’s free kick clear before Stephane Mbia’s bicycle kick flew over the bar.

Harry Redknapp’s side were split open again soon after as Martin Skrtel’s long ball from the back released Glen Johnson. The right-back stormed at goal before scuffing an effort across Cesar but Ryan Nelsen hacked away with Suarez awaiting a tap-in.

The Hoops were undone again before the half-hour mark as Downing’s quick corner found Gerrard who swung a cross in that an unmarked Agger nodded back across goal and past Cesar at the far post, which had been vacated by Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Suarez was running rampant and bundled into the box before cutting back to Gerrard. The Reds skipper smashed an effort that Armand Traore partially blocked before Hill scrambled off the line.

The Hoops were being overrun in midfield but showed some late spark as Taarabt smashed a couple of efforts from range, one of which required a simple save from Reina.

Redknapp responded at the break by replacing Djibril Cisse with Shaun Derry, but little changed as Sterling burst in from the left before feeding Suarez, whose stinging left-footed effort drew a flying save from Cesar.

The Reds’ tempo dropped in the second period, with Reina being called into action by Taarabt and Mbia, while substitute Esteban Granero hit a low free kick wide with his first touch.

The hosts ran out of steam late on, with only a tame Mbia free kick to show for their efforts as the game meandered to a close. Liverpool climbed one place to ninth and ensured the Hoops will end 2012 rooted to the foot of the table.