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Liverpool FC have launched a full medical investigation into Daniel Sturridge’s repeated injury problems.

The prolific Reds striker is expected to be out for another six weeks with a small tear in his thigh after pulling up in training on Tuesday.

It’s the third successive injury he has suffered this season and the ninth time he has damaged his left thigh in his professional career.

Timeline of Daniel Sturridge's injuries at Liverpool FC after latest setback

Boss Brendan Rodgers, who has been without Sturridge since August, will wait to discover the contents of a report he has asked for from the club’s medical staff before deciding how best to deal with a worrying trend.

“It’s hugely disappointing to lose a player of that quality,” Rodgers said.

“It happened in a session and it was quite innocuous. He did it when he just flicked the ball, it wasn’t a shot or anything that looked serious.

“But obviously he felt the pain and then when the medical team told me the next day after the scan it was disappointing.

“Whether Daniel needs to see a specialist is something that the medical team are looking into.

“I think that’s his ninth injury on that thigh from previous clubs and here so there is an issue there somewhere.

“Most players you’ll find want to play through an injury to get onto the field. Very few go out there and are 100%.

“The scan shows a slight tear just below where he had a previous injury.”

Sturridge’s absence this season has hurt Liverpool with them winning just four of the 14 matches he has missed to date.

During that run they have only scored 14 goals.

The 25-year-old’s ongoing struggle to stay fit has highlighted the need for the Reds to secure extra firepower during the January transfer window.

Liverpool hope to broker a deal with Lille in order to bring forward Divock Origi’s move to Anfield. The young Belgian isn’t currently scheduled to join the Reds until next summer.

Other striker targets are also being assessed but Rodgers refused to be drawn on the need to add to his squad in January.

The manager insists he’s focused on simply getting more out of the frontmen currently at his disposal.

Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert haven’t scored a league goal between them so far this season but Rodgers says they will all get further chances over the coming weeks to prove they can be a success at Anfield.

Sunday’s trip to Crystal Palace kicks off a crunch period of 12 games in the space of five-and-a-half weeks as the Reds look to put a miserable run of three straight defeats behind them.

“Now we just have to concentrate and focus on the players we do have,” Rodgers added.

“It’s that simple – make the best of what we have available.

“At this moment in time it’s about what is within the squad because that’s the players we have available.

“It will present an opportunity to the guys who have maybe been on the sidelines for quite a while.

“We can’t worry about what we had last season or what we have lost. We have to look at the players we have. We have an exciting period of games coming up.

“We want to ensure we go back to our basics and be really hard to beat and be strong and aggressive.

“We want to make an impact in front of goal. Now there’s an opportunity for some players who didn’t think they would get a chance.”