It is clear that sharp words from boss Rafael Benitez had some effect on the Spain management team this week, with Torres used only for the final 31 minutes of the 3-0 win over Chile.

Torres took the captain’s armband when he came on in Villarreal and scored within two minutes.

Benitez had said before the game: “I do not like the fact that Fernando has been called up after being out injured for so long, but there is nothing I can do about it.

“But we have spoken to the Spanish staff and asked them to protect him.”

Benitez will check on the fitness of the 13 Liverpool players away on international duty this week, but it is expected that Torres will start against the Londoners, having recovered from his hamstring problem.

Steven Gerrard, though, is likely to miss out. He withdrew from the England squad this week with a muscle tear, and Benitez believes that his skipper is doubtful for next Wednesday’s Champions League home game with Marseille.

By then Liverpool hope to have extended their unbeaten home league record for the calendar year so far to 16. In fact, Liverpool have only lost one of 26 home games in all competitions in 2008.

Victory will also give Liverpool 35 points, three more than their previous best start to a Premier League season after 14 games, which was set in 2001-02.

Liverpool are already five points better off than they were at this stage last season.

Fulham have hauled themselves up to mid-table, and have the best away defensive record in the division outside the top four, conceding just six times on their travels.

Initial reports suggest Liverpool suffered no new injury worries in the week’s international friendlies, when five players were involved for Spain.

Torres, Xabi Alonso, Albert Riera, Pepe Reina and Alvaro Arbeloa all appeared in the win over Chile.

Benitez is no lover of mid-season friendly internationals, but he was delighted to see a quintet of Liverpool players in the Spain team.

He said: “It was good to see so many of our players involved because it shows how important Liverpool are. I was especially pleased for Arbeloa and Riera because they are getting their reward for working hard and doing a good job for a good club.

“Hopefully the players will come back and be fit and ready for the game against Fulham because that is the most important thing for us now.”