Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel gives bad injury news on Instagram

Liverpool have been dealt a big blow with the news that defender Martin Skrtel will be out for six weeks because of a torn hamstring.

Skrtel limped off in the first half of Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat at Watford on Sunday and scans have revealed the centre-back will be out until February.

Alongside a picture of a lion, the Slovakian 31-year-old wrote on Instagram:

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“After all rumours going around,i want to say the time i will spend on sideline wont be 3 months...after i suffered tear in my hamstring and tendon i will be out for 6 weeks...i will work hard on my recovery and will do everything to come back as soon as possible and even stronger than before!thanks for your support.”

Although Liverpool's defensive record is one of the worst in the top half of the Barclays Premier League, the loss of the influential centre-half is a bit of unwelcome news for manager Jurgen Klopp, who is without a win in his last four matches.

Skrtel has been an ever-present for the Reds in the league this season, but now he is expected to miss the upcoming fixtures against Leicester, Sunderland, West Ham, Stoke, Exeter, Arsenal, Manchester United, Norwich and Stoke again in the Capital One Cup.

If Dejan Lovren does not recover from a knee injury in time for Liverpool’s Boxing Day clash against table-toppers Leicester, Kolo Toure is likely to be drafted in for his first league start of the season alongside Mamadou Sakho.