Emre Can Out For 4-6 Weeks With Ankle Injury

For the second time in a week Liverpool lose a starting midfielder for the remainder of the season. Liverpool supporters hoped against hope that the injury that forced Emre Can off early against Dortmund would only be a mild knock, but those hopes were thoroughly dashed today with the results of the medical scan.

The scan revealed ruptured ankle ligaments, with a prognosis of a 4 to 6 week recovery time. The assessment should rule out the 22-year-old for the rest of the season, and puts his involvement in the 2016 Euro Championship in doubt.

Klopp addressed the injury in his pre-Bournemouth press conference.

"We cannot change this, we will try to bring the boys back as soon as possible," Klopp told reporters, "There is hope for a few things. We should not say ‘season is finished' but if he's not available then we have to deal with it."

Dealing with it might be easier said than done. His injury, along with captain Jordan Henderson's, means that Liverpool will only have three senior central midfielders available for the Europa League semifinal showdown with Villarreal: James Milner, Lucas Leiva, and Joe Allen. Kevin Stewart is not in the Europa League squad, although Cameron Brannagan--who acquitted himself well in the early stages of the competition--is.

Can's injury is just another in a long line of injuries this campaign, and one that will force some creative problem solving by Klopp & Co. as the season winds down.