Liverpool FC rocked by Fernando Torres injury blow

Early indications suggest the striker will be out for a minimum of 10 days, which would rule him out of Saturday's visit of Wigan Athletic and an emotional return to former club Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.

It would also make Torres a major doubt for the Premier League trip to Chelsea on Sunday week, a fixture from which he was also absent last season.

But Spain team doctor Oscar Celada said Torres may only be out for a week.

He said: "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."

Early last month, Torres was sidelined for more than a fortnight after suffering a hamstring tear in his right leg in the goalless draw at Aston Villa.

In another injury setback for Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, Ryan Babel was forced off after 25 minutes of Holland's 1-0 win in Norway after sustaining an ankle injury following a strong challenge by Morten Gamst Pedersen.

Despite the growing problems, Benitez has warned Liverpool to heed the lessons of last season when they entertain Wigan on Saturday as the Anfield outfit aim to keep pace with Chelsea at the top of the table.

Benitez's side remain unbeaten and have lost just four of their last 46 top-flight matches, a run stretching back to the tail-end of the 2006-07 campaign.

However, last season's efforts to launch a credible championship challenge were undermined by a number of damaging draws, particularly at Anfield.

Wigan were responsible for one such outcome in January when Titus Bramble's unlikely 80th-minute volley equalised an earlier Torres effort.

It's a result that still rankles with Benitez and, after Liverpool were held to a goalless draw by Stoke City in their previous home league game, the Spaniard has urged his players to be on their guard at the weekend.

"We know not to take anything for granted against Wigan because two points slipped away against them last season of course," said the Liverpool manager.

"It was a bad game.

"I think we deserved to win but anyway, you have to score a second goal and finish the game if you want to avoid these situations.

"We know the Premier League is very difficult and all the teams have something and can be strong in the air and play with determination.

"When they come to Anfield you know it will be really difficult so we have to be alert and be careful next time.

"But the team has more confidence now and I think we can approach the games thinking about just to finish it as soon as possible."