Liverpool 4-0 Everton: Divock Origi faces anxious wait on ankle injury suffered during Merseyside derby

Liverpool face an anxious wait to determine the severity of an ankle injury sustained by Divock Origi in Wednesday's (20 April) Merseyside derby against Everton. The Belgian striker was stretchered off during the second half of a thumping 4-0 victory at Anfield following a terrible challenge from Ramiro Funes Mori that deservedly earned the centre-back a straight red card.

To lose Origi for the remainder of the season would come as a terrible blow for Liverpool. The 21-year-old, who was signed for £10m ($14.3m) in July 2014 before being immediately loaned back to French club Lille, had really found form over recent weeks and established himself ahead of Daniel Sturridge as Jurgen Klopp's first-choice forward. He netted in both recent ties against Borussia Dortmund and also notched a brace in a comfortable win over Stoke.

After recovering from a minor back problem, he headed in the opener against Everton before his evening was prematurely ended by a reckless tackle. His absence would come at a costly time for the Reds, who host Newcastle United this weekend before travelling to Estadio El Madrigal next Thursday (28 April) for the first leg of their Europa League semi-final meeting with Villarreal. Any lengthy lay-off would also presumably curtail his hopes of competing for Belgium at the European Championship finals in France this summer.

Klopp confirmed after the full-time whistle that Origi's ankle was not broken, although he will likely need a scan to determine any potential ligament damage. As quoted by the Daily Mail, he said: "Divock's ankle is not broken. I have seen him in the medical room, smiling. It is twisted. We will have to see how he is."

Liverpool have been unlucky with injuries of late and lost captain Jordan Henderson for the remainder of the season when he suffered damage to his lateral collateral ligament in Dortmund. Fellow midfielder Emre Can has also been ruled out for up to six weeks with ruptured ankle ligaments, joining Christian Benteke and Martin Skrtel on the sidelines. Long-term absentees Danny Ings, Jordan Rossiter and Joe Gomez remain unavailable.