Friday 4 August 2017 20:37, UK
Adam Lallana will miss Liverpool's start to the season after being ruled out for at least two months with a thigh injury.
The England international suffered the problem in Liverpool's Audi Cup final defeat against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
The injury comes just a week before Liverpool begin their Premier League campaign against Watford on August 12, live on Sky Sports Main Event, before crucial Champions League qualifiers against Hoffenheim.
"This is certainly not news we would have wanted," manager Jurgen Klopp told the club's official website.
"Unfortunately, the damage is such that it will likely mean Adam is out for a couple of months not weeks, so I think we can pretty much rule him out of August and September.
"Beyond that we will monitor and wait and see. He is a boy with a world-class attitude to everything professionally and he has always come back in good time from injury setbacks since I have been here, so we will see."
Lallana's injury is likely to see him miss key games against Arsenal and Manchester City in the early months of the season, while he could be a doubt when Liverpool face Manchester United on October 14.
The 29-year-old will be absent when England travel to Malta for a qualifier on September 1 and then host Slovakia three days later as Gareth Southgate's side look to move a step closer to next summer's tournament in Russia.
Lallana will hope to be fully fit for the Three Lions' final two qualifiers, that take place against Slovenia on October 5 and away to Lithuania three days later.
