Liverpool have confirmed striker Fernando Torres will still report for international duty with Spain this week despite suffering an ankle ligament strain against Stoke.
The Reds striker required treatment during the second half of the 2-0 Premier League defeat at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday but still completed the 90 minutes.
Torres will now be assessed by Spain staff ahead of Wednesday’s friendly against Portugal in Lisbon.
An injury to Torres, who had hit form with four goals in four games prior to the weekend, is the last thing Liverpool need.
The defeat at Stoke also saw Brazil midfielder Lucas sent off late on after he picked up a second booking.
But manager Roy Hodgson insists his side is not back to square one after their six-match unbeaten run came to an end.
Ricardo Fuller and Kenwyne Jones did the damage with second-half goals for Stoke but Hodgson said: ‘I don’t see why it should give us enormous reason to doubt what we are doing or doubt what we are capable of doing.
‘I find it hard to have to explain that every time you win a game things are flying forward and when you get a bad result they are flying backwards.
‘I’m a 38-to-55-game-a-season man and I make my judgment over that period.
‘I don’t think I need to fear one setback in six is going to throw us back into a bad situation.’
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