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Liverpool blow as Lucas is ruled out for two months with knee injury
PUBLISHED: 11:52 EST, 21 January 2014 | UPDATED: 12:02 EST, 21 January 2014
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Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva is expected to be sidelined for up to two months by a knee ligament injury.
It is understood the Brazil midfielder has damaged the medical collateral ligament in his right knee.
Although not as serious as injury to a cruciate ligament - the 27-year-old ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in November 2011 - it will still keep the midfielder out for six to eight weeks, which would take him into March.
Lucas sustained the injury just 20 minutes after coming on as a half-time substitute in Saturday's 2-2 draw at home to Aston Villa.
He told manager Brendan Rodgers he heard 'a click' in his right knee following a challenge with Fabian Delph and subsequently left the ground on crutches, later tweeting: 'It is in God's hands.'
Lucas had been left out of the starting line-up as Rodgers opted to play captain Steven Gerrard in a holding role for the second successive match, allowing him to field a more attacking side with returning striker Daniel Sturridge accommodated at the Brazilian's expense.
The experiment did not work and Rodgers corrected his mistake at half-time and Lucas' arrival did allow the Reds to regain some control.
With Liverpool looking to hold on to fourth place in the Barclays Premier League, Rodgers could be tempted to find additional cover in the transfer window as he has been short in the area of defensive midfielders for some time.
He still sees Gerrard as being able to perform a role but most of his other midfield options - Jordan Henderson, Joe Allen, Luis Alberto - are all more offensively-minded players.
Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates is set to rejoin former club Nacional on loan as he battles to be fit for this summer's World Cup.
The 23-year-old has been sidelined since tearing an anterior cruciate ligament in a knee while on international duty for Uruguay in August.
Coates is still continuing his rehabilitation but it is understood he is already in Montevideo awaiting completion of the move.
Liverpool are prepared to allow the centre-back to continue his rehabilitation in his homeland with a view to him regaining fitness and being able to get some match practice before this summer's tournament in Brazil.
'It would be beautiful to join Nacional and complete my recovery in Uruguay with my family and friends," the centre-back told Radio El Espectador 810.
'The negotiations can be hard sometimes, and we have to wait a bit.'
Coates joined Liverpool from Nacional in August 2011 in a reported £7million deal but struggled to force his way into the first team.
The centre-back has made just 24 appearances in that time, half of which have been in the Premier League, and scored two goals.
PUBLISHED: 11:52 EST, 21 January 2014 | UPDATED: 12:02 EST, 21 January 2014
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Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva is expected to be sidelined for up to two months by a knee ligament injury.
It is understood the Brazil midfielder has damaged the medical collateral ligament in his right knee.
Although not as serious as injury to a cruciate ligament - the 27-year-old ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in November 2011 - it will still keep the midfielder out for six to eight weeks, which would take him into March.
Down and out: Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva is treated by the club's medical staff after injuring himself against Aston Villa on Saturday
Concerned: Lucas is escorted off the Anfield pitch after picking up a knee ligament injury
Lucas sustained the injury just 20 minutes after coming on as a half-time substitute in Saturday's 2-2 draw at home to Aston Villa.
He told manager Brendan Rodgers he heard 'a click' in his right knee following a challenge with Fabian Delph and subsequently left the ground on crutches, later tweeting: 'It is in God's hands.'
Lucas had been left out of the starting line-up as Rodgers opted to play captain Steven Gerrard in a holding role for the second successive match, allowing him to field a more attacking side with returning striker Daniel Sturridge accommodated at the Brazilian's expense.
The experiment did not work and Rodgers corrected his mistake at half-time and Lucas' arrival did allow the Reds to regain some control.
Heads up: Lucas wins a header against Villa's Andreas Weimann before being substituted
With Liverpool looking to hold on to fourth place in the Barclays Premier League, Rodgers could be tempted to find additional cover in the transfer window as he has been short in the area of defensive midfielders for some time.
He still sees Gerrard as being able to perform a role but most of his other midfield options - Jordan Henderson, Joe Allen, Luis Alberto - are all more offensively-minded players.
Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates is set to rejoin former club Nacional on loan as he battles to be fit for this summer's World Cup.
The 23-year-old has been sidelined since tearing an anterior cruciate ligament in a knee while on international duty for Uruguay in August.
Coates is still continuing his rehabilitation but it is understood he is already in Montevideo awaiting completion of the move.
On the move: Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates is set to rejoin his former club Nacional on loan
Liverpool are prepared to allow the centre-back to continue his rehabilitation in his homeland with a view to him regaining fitness and being able to get some match practice before this summer's tournament in Brazil.
'It would be beautiful to join Nacional and complete my recovery in Uruguay with my family and friends," the centre-back told Radio El Espectador 810.
'The negotiations can be hard sometimes, and we have to wait a bit.'
Coates joined Liverpool from Nacional in August 2011 in a reported £7million deal but struggled to force his way into the first team.
The centre-back has made just 24 appearances in that time, half of which have been in the Premier League, and scored two goals.
Big loss for sure, but let's not get xuberant...you are running the risk of being indefinitely confined to your own quarters in Bellevue.
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