Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will be cursing international football once again after learning that both Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel limped off while on World Cup qualifying duty.

Torres lasted less than 16 minutes of Spain's World Cup qualifier against Belgium having felt a tweak in the muscle in the back of his left leg and was taken off as a precaution. Liverpool's top scorer now looks likely to miss out the Reds' trip to Wigan at the very least with his chances of appearing against old club Atletico Madrid in the Champions League also appearing remote.

Benitez will be especially keen to have Torres, who recently missed out on the last international break after tearing a hamstring muscle at Aston Villa back in September, for the following Sunday against Chelsea.

Spain team doctor Oscar Celada told Spanish television: "He has intense pain in the back part of the thigh. It is difficult to diagnose now exactly the extent, if it is a question of a strain or a small tear. If it is a strain then he could be out for about a week."

Babel was also forced off in Holland's 1-0 victory in Norway.

The 21-year-old was substituted after 26 minutes with the nature of his injury yet to be disclosed.

Meanwhile, Liverpool staff and fans alike await news on where the match with Atletico will be played. The Spanish club have been imposed with a 300km ban after crowd trouble and racist abuse marred their clash with Olympique Marseille, causing an outcry on those who had already paid for flights and hotels.

An alternative venue has yet to be decided with Atletico saying on Wednesday that they were confident they could at least get the ban postponed until a later group game with PSV.

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry hopes the game can still be played in Madrid.

Parry told the club's official website, www.liverpoolfc.tv: "Working closely with the FA, we've made strong representation at the highest level pointing out the effects a switch will have on our travelling fans.

"We've also raised serious concerns on the safety and security aspects of such a late change of venue. We will continue to work hard, but are hopeful UEFA will take on board these issues when deciding where the game will be played.''