Jordon Ibe out for a MONTH but Steven Gerrard closes in on Liverpool comeback
JORDON IBE is set to be sidelined for up to four weeks with a knee injury, placing further strain on Liverpool's resources as they endeavour to ensure their season does not implode for the second successive campaign.
The talented teenager limped out of the Europa League defeat to Besiktas last Thursday after damaging lateral ligaments in his ankle and is expected to be out for a maximum of a month.
Ibe, 19, has made an eye-catching impact at Anfield in an unfamiliar wing-back role, but could now miss matches against Burnley, Blackburn in the FA Cup, Swansea and Manchester United.
The absence of Ibe – who is set to be offered a new contract by Liverpool – would also impact on his hopes of a first England U21 call-up for the internationals with Czech Republic and Germany at the end of the month.
His setback represents a blow for manager Brendan Rodgers, although captain Steven Gerrard is set to return this week after a hamstring problem caused him to miss the last five matches. If Burnley comes too soon on Wednesday, Gerrard should be fit to face Blackburn.
Brendan Rodgers hails Liverpool s big win
Gerrard will return to a squad buoyed by an impressive run of form which culminated in Sunday's 2-1 win over Manchester City to cement their hopes of a top-four finish.
Liverpool remain in fifth place just two points behind Manchester United and three points behind Arsenal – sides they face in back-to-back matches in the coming weeks.
Rodgers has seen his men beat Tottenham, Southampton and Manchester City in their last three league matches to emerge as the top flight's form team, though the memory of their failed title bid last season continues to grate.
Then, a defeat to Chelsea and a draw with Crystal Palace allowed City to snatch the crown and midfielder Joe Allen said: "We learned a lot from last season and hopefully that will help us between now and the end of the season.
Brendan Rodgers Manager Profile
"The disappointment of those games against Chelsea and Palace during the run-in hurt us, but sometimes you forget how good that run was.
"We won 12 of our last 14 games. In the last couple of seasons we've finished really strong and hopefully we can do something similar again.
"Our target is the top four – there's no secret in that. Nothing is impossible in football, but it's the old cliche of taking each game as it comes.
"That was the secret to our run last season. We didn't look too far ahead and I'm sure it will be more of the same."
Allen improved against City on his performance in the Europa League defeat in Turkey and knows consistency is key to ensuring he remains in the starting line-up.
The injuries to Gerrard and Lucas Leiva have given Allen his chance and the Wales midfielder said: "It's unfortunate for individuals when you do get injuries.
Joe Allen Player Profile
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"I've been on the other side of it. But it has given me my opportunity in recent weeks. When the team wins it's always fantastic to be part of it. It was probably one of my best performances for Liverpool.
"If I can maintain my fitness and make sure it doesn't break up my season going forward then I'm confident I have the ability to put in those kind of performances consistently.
"We lost a world class player (in Luis Suarez). That is bound to have an effect and you want it to be short-term. It was a bit longer than we probably hoped but in terms of everyone else as individuals, we have all moved on.
"That is the beauty of having a young squad which is always developing, learning new ways of playing, playing different systems.
"We have a squad of versatile players. At this stage of the season that has really helped us."
