Liverpool's injury crisis has further deepened with the news that Chris Kirkland will be sideline for three months and Xabi Alonso will now be out of action for up to ten weeks, instead of an expected six.
Kirkland has been told that he will need surgery on a troublesome back injury that has plagued him since December.
The goalkeeper had hoped to cure his longstanding back problem through plenty of rest, but he will now have keyhole surgery on a disc on Friday in an attempt to solve the problem once and for all.
Alonso meanwhile, is struggling to recover from a broken ankle suffered during Liverpool's 1-0 defeat to Chelsea when a terrible Frank Lampard challenge forced him off.
The Spanish international had hoped to be back in time for Liverpool's Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen but as now been told it will be at least 10 weeks before he can play again.
Steven Gerrard, who also misses the first leg against Leverkusen
through suspension, Milan Baros, Harry Kewell, Djibril Cisse, Luis Garcia, Vladimir Smicer, Josemi and Antonio Nunez have all spent prolonged spells in the treatment room this season.
