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Martin Skrtel has revealed he expects to be out of action for up to six weeks after the Liverpool defender took to social media to deny rumours he was set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Skrtel underwent a scan at Melwood on Tuesday morning after limping off during the first half of the Reds’ 3-0 defeat at Watford on Sunday.

Liverpool medical staff had not offered a definitive timeframe for the 31-year-old’s recovery, despite rumours his injury could keep him out for months rather than weeks, until he posted on Instagram to clarify the matter.

A six-week absence would rule him out of Premier League games against Leicester City, Sunderland, West Ham United, Arsenal, Manchester United and Norwich City, as well as both legs of the Capital One Cup semi-final tie against Stoke City and the FA Cup trip to Exeter.

His lay-off is a headache Reds boss Jurgen Klopp could well do without.

Dejan Lovren, the club’s third senior centre-back, missed the Watford loss with a knee injury – though Klopp believes he could be available for the Boxing Day game – and Kolo Toure has not started a Premier League match this season.

With doubts already surrounding the fitness of goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, vice-captain James Milner and striker Daniel Sturridge, Klopp can ill-afford to lose any more senior players with such a congested fixture list approaching.

Mamadou Sakho made an unconvincing return from his own knee injury at Watford and Mignolet is expected to return against Leicester.

The fitness of Sturridge, who has a hamstring problem, remains an ongoing concern, though the hope is that the England striker will be able to play some part before the end of the year.