Benitez resigned to losing Alonso

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez does not think midfielder injured Xabi Alonso will play again this season.

The Spain midfielder broke his ankle in a challenge by Chelsea’s Frank Lampard on New Year’s Day and was expected to be out for three months.

But Anfield boss Benitez has accepted he will probably be without the £10million former Real Sociedad star until the 2005/06 season.

“In my mind now I think that Xabi will not play again this season,” he told the club’s website, liverpoolfc.tv.

“After three months, you don’t know, some players can come straight back but some players take a lot of time. If Xabi comes back it will be a bonus.”