Liverpool have released a statement on their official website confirming that Daniel Sturridge has suffered a fresh thigh injury.
The England international forward has been missing since pulling up in training with the national team in September, and hasn’t played for the Reds since the end of August.
While this thigh strain is reported as a new blow – unrelated to the last injury – Sturridge may not play again in 2014 given the typical prognosis of six weeks on the sidelines.
Scans have revealed that Daniel Sturridge will be sidelined for a further six weeks with the thigh injury he suffered in training. #LFC
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) November 19, 2014
None of Liverpool’s other strikers have scored yet in the Premier League this season, which will be a real concern for manager Brendan Rodgers.
Rickie Lambert managed 13 goals and 10 assists for Southampton in the top flight last term, Borini scored seven and assisted twice for Sunderland, and Balotelli scored 14 times and provided six assists for AC Milan in Serie A in 2013-14.
None of them have translated that form into a red shirt though, and Rodgers has found himself under more pressure than ever before in the Anfield hot seat.
Deprived of the option of selecting Sturridge until 2015, he will need his other forwards to step up.