Liverpool lose duo for three months
Wednesday, January 5, 2005
Article summary
Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso and goalkeeper Chris Kirkland each face surgery and a lengthy absence.
Article body
Thursday surgery
Alonso will undergo surgery tomorrow on his left ankle which was broken following a challenge from Frank Lampard in the New Year's Day defeat by Chelsea FC. The club initially thought that the Spanish international would require six weeks to recuperate, but that time has now been doubled.
Back injury
Kirkland will have keyhole surgery on a disc in his lower back on Friday. The 23-year-old has been plagued by injury at Anfield following a near €10m move from Coventry City FC in 2001 and has played just 25 Premiership matches in that time.
Leverkusen next
Should the Reds defeat Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, both players should be fit for the quarter-final first leg on 5/6 April.
Pellegrino arrival
