Liverpool lose Škrtel for two months
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
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Liverpool FC have learned that Martin Škrtel will be sidelined until the end of April after breaking a metatarsal in his right foot during the second leg of the round of 32 tie against FC Unirea Urziceni.
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Liverpool FC will have to negotiate both legs of their UEFA Europa League round of 16 tie against LOSC Lille Métropole without defender Martin Škrtel.
Škrtel, who featured in four of Liverpool's UEFA Champions League group stage fixtures and the twin instalments of their round of 32 victory over FC Unirea Urziceni, was forced off midway through the second half of last week's 3-1 win in Bucharest. Subsequent x-rays have confirmed that the 25-year-old Slovakian international broke a metatarsal in his right foot and though surgery is not required, he nevertheless faces two months on the sidelines.
"The defender is expected to be out of action for up to eight weeks," said a club statement. Liverpool travel to France on 11 March and host Lille in the Anfield return a week later. With a possible quarter-final assignment scheduled for 1 April and 8 April, manager Rafael Benítez would again be missing Škrtel were Liverpool to progress.
