Liverpool injury news: Martin Skrtel out for six weeks with hamstring tear

Martin Skrtel has confirmed that he will miss up to six weeks of action after suffering a hamstring tear in Liverpool's game against Watford last weekend. The defender will be a massive miss for Jurgen Klopp's men, who are already down to their bare bones in defence with four players currently unavailable through injury.

The news will come as a boost for the Liverpool faithful, with initials reports emerging that Skrtel could miss up to three months of action, which would have been a major setback in their race to finish in the top four. The Serbian has been the mainstay in the Liverpool defence this season, with the likes of Dejan Lovren, Mamadou Sakho, Joe Gomez and Jon Flanagan all out for an extended period through injury.

Kolo Toure is likely to replace Skrtel in the Liverpool line-up with Rodgers looking to delve in the market in January to alleviate the crisis at the back. Lovren is out till late in the new year with a laceration in the knee and is likely to miss their crucial game against Arsenal at Anfield midway through January.

"After all rumours going around, I want to say the time I will spend on sideline won't be 3 months. After I suffered tear in my hamstring and tendon I will be out for 6 weeks. I will work hard on my recovery and will do everything to come back as soon as possible and even stronger than before! Thanks for your support," Skrtel said, as quoted by the Guardian.

Liverpool are currently ninth in the league and have not tasted victory in their last four games in all competitions, losing two and drawing the rest. Losses against Newcastle and Watford have put Klopp's philosophy under question, especially after morale boosting victories over Chelsea, Manchester City and Southampton under his reign. The Reds are into the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup where they will face Stoke City in a double header in January, as Klopp looks to announce his arrival in the league with a trophy.