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Having started five matches in February and two in the previous week, most assumed 19-year-old Jordon Ibe was only being rested when the team sheet was released and he wasn’t even on the bench against Manchester City on Sunday. Instead, word comes today that he was left out due to carrying a knock, and that after further tests it has been determined he will be out for the next month.
The young winger suffered a strained lateral collateral ligament—a muscle on the outside of the knee—in Thursday’s defeat to Besiktas, and in the second half of the match could be seen gingerly testing it during a break in play. Shortly afterwards, he was removed, adding a disappointing final note to an evening that hadn’t seen Ibe at his best. He will now miss a minimum of three, and more likely four, weeks.
The good news for Liverpool is that without the Europa League to worry about, Lazar Markovic will be available to start at right wing back in his place, and the fixture list isn’t exceptionally heavy. Liverpool play Burnley in the league on Wednesday before facing Blackburn in the FA Cup on Sunday, but after that there are only matches against Swansea and Manchester United to worry about the rest of the way.
In more positive injury news, Jon Flanagan has been cleared to begin practicing with his teammates and Steven Gerrard is hopeful of at least making the bench against Burnley mid-week.
