Injuries Could Rule Liverpool's Torres and Babel Out of Wigan Game

The Liverpool striker Fernando Torres could miss his side's forthcoming matches against Wigan, Atlético Madrid and Chelsea after suffering a suspected leg muscle tear during Spain's 2-1 victory over Belgium last night.

Torres was substituted after 16 minutes of the World Cup qualifier in Brussels and the national team coach, Vicente Del Bosque, said he was unsure how long the striker would be sidelined. Del Bosque initially claimed that Torres had suffered a muscle tear, but the Spanish team doctor, Oscar Celada, said it could have been a strain.

"He has intense pain in the back part of the thigh," Celada said. "It is difficult to diagnose now exactly the extent and whether 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."

Liverpool have further injury worries after Ryan Babel was forced off with an unspecified injured during Holland's win over Norway. The 21-year-old Dutch attacker played just under half an hour of the 1-0 win in Oslo. "As soon as Fernando and Ryan return to Melwood today they will be assessed by our medical staff," Ian Cotton, spokesman for the Merseyside club, said this morning. "Only then will we be able to diagnose the extent of the injuries and the timescales involved."

Torres is this Premier League's joint top scorer so far this season with five goals, but the Spaniard has struggled with hamstring problems this season. At the beginning of September he was sidelined for the international break after tearing a muscle in the goalless draw against Aston Villa.