Liverpool defender Markus Babbel has been struck down by a mystery illness and will be out of action for at least a month. The German had been complaining recently of suffering from flu-like symptoms and was substituted during recent league matches against West Ham and Bolton. However, further tests have revealed the condition is more serious than previously thought and that his immune system has been affected.
Babbel returned to Germany during the break for the recent round of international matches and has not yet returned to Liverpool. His loss will come as a serious blow to Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier as he will be without one of the key members of his team for the up-coming league game against Aston Villa and also Champions League matches against Boavista, Borussia Dortmund and Dynamo Kiev.
The options open to the Frenchman include playing 21-year-old Stephen Wright at right-back or else switching Jamie Carragher to the right and bringing in summer signing John Arne Riise or Gregory Vignal on the left.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
