Liverpool
forward Philippe Coutinho had a scan on his ankle injury on Monday amid fears
he could be sidelined until the middle of January.
Coutinho, 24,
was taken off on a stretcher after colliding with Didier Ndong of Sunderland
during the first half of Saturday’s 2-0 win at Anfield.
Though the
full results of the scan are yet to be revealed, the likelihood is the
Brazilian has ligament damage.
That usually
means a player is sidelined for five or six weeks.
It means
Coutinho, one of Jurgen Klopp’s most influential players as the Reds have moved
into second place in the Premier League, looks certain to miss key games.
Liverpool face
Everton in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on 19 December, and meet
Manchester City at Anfield on New Year’s Eve.
Coutinho would
miss both games if ligament damage is confirmed.
He was at
Liverpool’s Melwood training headquarters on Sunday, leaving on crutches with
his right ankle in a protective boot before having his scan 24 hours later.
Klopp will
also be without summer signing Sadio Mane in January as the striker will be on
Africa Cup of Nations duty with Senegal. £34
The German is
unlikely to risk Coutinho’s countryman Roberto Firmino in Tuesday’s EFL Cup
quarter-final against Leeds United at Anfield after he took a kick on the calf
against Sunderland.
Daniel
Sturridge, who missed that game after reporting tightness in his calf, will be
sidelined again.
Adam Lallana,
who has missed Liverpool’s past two Premier League games after injuring his
draw during England’s 2-2 draw with Spain at Wembley, continues to make good
progress.
He is in
training again under the guidance of Liverpool’s fitness coaches but will not
be considered for the match Leeds.
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