Zenden to have knee operation

Bolo Zenden will have a knee operation tomorrow that will rule him out of Liverpool’s plans until the new year.

The Dutch international has had a scan on the same knee he damaged at almost the same stage of last season, then ruling him out for the rest of the campaign.

Manager Rafael Benitez said: “It is not the same injury as last season, then he damaged his cruciate ligament.

“This time it is his medial ligament, but because it is the same knee the decision has been made that he must have the operation. He will be out for between four and five weeks.”

Zenden damaged the knee during last weekend’s 1-0 win over Manchester City.

The injury is a bitter blow to the 30-year-old coming so soon after fellow midfielders Xabi Alonso and Mohamed Sissoko were ruled out with long-term problems.

Zenden had been given the opportunity by Benitez to stake a claim for a midfield role alongside Steven Gerrard, but those plans have now been scuppered.

Zenden is added to an injury list that not only includes Alonso and Sissoko, but also Mark Gonzalez, Harry Kewell, Stephen Warnock and Fabio Aurelio.