Sinama-Pongolle suffers setback

Cardiff showpiece
The 20-year-old Frenchman sustained the injury shortly after coming on for Milan Baroš in the 1-0 second-leg success which secured a 2-0 aggregate win and a place in the Cardiff final against Chelsea FC or Manchester United FC. The 27 February showpiece is likely to come too soon for Sinama-Pongolle, though, with Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez saying: "We think it is a very bad injury."

'Another blow'
He continued: "We have not had the best of luck with injuries of late and this is another blow. We will have to talk to the doctor and wait and see." Benítez said yesterday that Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso would be out for the season along with Djibril Cissé, while Harry Kewell is recovering from a groin strain. The Reds face Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the first knockout round of the UEFA Champions League, with Anfield staging the first leg on 22 February.