Kirkland suffers more injury woe

Liverpool have been dealt a major blow by the news that Chris Kirkland will be out for a further two months.

The England Under-21 goalkeeper broke a finger in the win over Bolton on St Stephen's Day but an operation on the injury has revealed a more complicated injury than first thought.

Kirkland had only just re-established himself as first-choice after a serious knee injury ended last season four months’ early.

“Chris had to have an operation on Monday and could be out for up to two months,” manager Gerard Houllier said on the club’s official website, www.liverpoolfc.tv.

“We thought it was a clear fracture at first but the fracture extends down through the joint so he needed an operation and will be out for longer than we anticipated.

“It was a minor incident and he was unlucky. I wouldn’t say he is prone to injury but he has been very unlucky with them.”