Injury jinx strikes 'Pool again

Liverpool’s injury jinx has struck again with goalkeeper Chris Kirkland added to the list of sidelined stars.

He broke a finger in the 3-1 win over Bolton and will be out for a month, which means Poland number one star Jerzy Dudek will be restored to the side at Manchester City tomorrow.

Dudek was rumoured to be a transfer window target of City but he will be needed now in Kirkland’s absence.

Liverpool have a doubt over John Arne Riise, who twisted an ankle in the Boxing Day game, while Steven Gerrard also has heavy bruising after a nasty challenge from Per Frandsen.

Manager Gerard Houllier expects both to be fit while Harry Kewell’s comeback will continue after the Australian lasted an hour before being substituted against Bolton.

Michael Owen will have another scan on his thigh injury on Monday to assess whether he can step up his training with a chance of facing Yeovil in the FA Cup next weekend. Steve Finnan, Milan Baros, Jamie Carragher and Salif Diao are all still injured.

PROVISIONAL SQUAD: Dudek, Otsemobor, Biscan, Hyypia, Henchoz, Riise, Traore, Diouf, Murphy, Hamann, Gerrard, Kewell, Le Tallec, Heskey, Sinama-Pongolle, Luzi, Welsh, Cheyrou.