Torres has played just twice in the past month as he grapples with a hernia problem, substituted after scoring in both the 2-0 win over Manchester United 10 days ago and the 3-1 defeat at Fulham on Saturday.

But the Spaniard will start this evening – possibly alongside the fit-again David Ngog – with Benitez hopeful he will avoid the need for surgery.

“I was talking with the doctor and he said Torres has a sportsman’s hernia,” said the manager. “It means he has a problem and we have to manage the problem.

“The positive thing is he is improving. He is training, sometimes with pain and playing sometimes with pain, but it’s less pain every time. Hopefully we can continue doing well with him, and maybe he will not need an operation.

“We don’t have a set time for him to play, it’s a question of how he feels. Sometimes he has felt something, so clearly he’s not 100% fit.

“Against United he played at 80% and scored the winning goal, so you never know with him. It’s an important game and we have to see what we can do with him.

“We talk with Fernando every day and see how he feels. After United he needed four days to be ready again, after Fulham he told me he was much better if still feeling something.

“Yesterday he was much better and hopefully on Wednesday he can be even better.”

Stephen Darby, Jay Spearing and Damien Plessis have also travelled to France with Liverpool having been given special dispensation to also add Danny Ayala to the Champions League squad.

Gerrard stayed at Melwood to continue his rehabilitation from an adductor problem, with Benitez hopeful his skipper will be available for the Premier League visit of Birmingham City next Monday.

TONIGHT’S officials are from Belgium, with Frank De Bleeckere the referee. He has previously presided over Liverpool wins against Juventus, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.