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Mamadou Sakho is expected to miss Liverpool FC’s game with West Ham United this weekend with a back injury.

The French defender was forced off in the Reds’ Capital One Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea on Tuesday night, having suffered the problem during the warm-up at Stamford Bridge. The 24-year-old played through the pain, lasting 57 minutes before succumbing.

He will be assessed by the club’s medical staff at Melwood over the next 48 hours, but is unlikely to recover in time for the visit of the Hammers on Saturday.

The news will come as a blow to Brendan Rodgers, as his side prepares for another big week of fixtures. After hosting West Ham, Liverpool travel to Bolton Wanderers for their FA Cup fourth round replay, before going to Goodison Park to face Everton in the Merseyside derby.

Rodgers could do without further disruption to his defence, which has improved considerably in recent weeks since the switch to a 3-4-2-1 formation.

Liverpool have conceded just six goals in their last nine games, all of which Sakho has started, but his absence could open the door for either Glen Johnson or Dejan Lovren to stake their claims.

Johnson replaced Sakho at Chelsea, having returned from a thigh injury against Bolton last weekend.

Rodgers also has Dejan Lovren, the most expensive defender in Liverpool’s history, available, though neither he nor Johnson appear an ideal fit for his three-man defence. Neither have started a league game since the defeat to Manchester United on December 14, though Lovren did start the League Cup win at Bournemouth three days later.

Daniel Sturridge is expected to be named in the Reds squad for the first time since August, and could play some part in the game.

The England striker travelled to Chelsea with his teammates on Tuesday, but was not risked, even on the bench. Rodgers stated last weekend, however, that he was likely to be involved against West Ham, though he has repeatedly stressed that no unnecessary risks will be taken with the 25-year-old, who has been plagued by thigh and calf issues.