Torres wants to play against Birmingham on Monday despite being told not to play for three weeks.

It could spark a row with Spain who agreed not to pick Torres, 25, for their prestige date with Argentina, The Sun reports.

The Reds striker was advised to rest when he flew to Valencia in the club’s jet to consult Dr Ramon Cugat, who saw Torres last season on boss Rafa Benitez’s recommendation.

Cugat appears to have assured Torres that he would not need surgery if he paced himself properly.

He was back at the Liverpool training ground on Friday and all the signs are he will continue to play through the pain as the Reds seek to halt their disastrous eight-game run with just one win.

Kop skipper Steven Gerrard also managed light training on Friday after being given a pain-killing injection.