“I’m tired after playing nearly 90 minutes after two months of not doing so,” he said. “But I’m ready for as much as the coach thinks is right.

“These games are always special for Spain. We can’t wait to play against them, especially after they knocked us out of the last World Cup. We always have it in for them.”

Jamie Carragher has joined Benitez in praying Torres manages to avoid injury, with Liverpool fighting for fourth place and Europa League glory.

But having seen the striker come through a buffeting from Blackburn, Carragher is convinced his team-mate can withstand any French bullying tomorrow.

“Fernando has come back in and it goes without saying how much we have missed him. He is still our top scorer, the kind of special player who will make a difference.

“I know from training against him that he can cope with the physical side. He’s a big, powerful lad, who is right up for the fight, and he’s ideally suited to English football.

“That’s why he’s done so well. It would be wrong to rely on just one man. After all, you never know, he could come back injured off international duty.

“Please God, that doesn’t happen. But he makes a big difference and you can see we are a much better team when he is with us.”

Meanwhile, Daniel Agger faces a race to be fit for next Monday’s trip to Wigan Athletic after leaving Anfield on crutches on Sunday evening.

“Daniel underwent a scan this morning which has shown severe bruising to the bone in his right knee,” said a club spokesman yesterday. “The knee is still very swollen and he will continue to receive treatment at Melwood this week.”