Liverpool without Kuyt after injuring shoulder on international duty
Published:Just as Fernando Torres is on the brink of returning to full fitness, another of Liverpool’s main source of goals faces a spell on the sidelines.
Dirk Kuyt could be out for two months after injuring his shoulder during training with the Dutch national team ahead of their Euro 2012 qualifying game with Finland.
The 30-year-old was attempting a bicycle kick when he fell awkwardly and it is believed that he may have torn ligaments in his left shoulder.
Holland manager Bert van Marwijk said: “Dirk does that a lot. There was nobody close to him but this time it went wrong.
“He has strained and possibly torn ligaments in his shoulder. He’ll probably have a few weeks off.”
The injury is set to rule Kuyt out of some big games in the coming weeks, with Liverpool facing clashes against Birmingham and Manchester United in the Premier League in the next fortnight, alongside a Europa League clash with Steaua Bucharest.
Roy Hodgson has taken four points from his first three league games as Liverpool manager and will know they are in danger of letting a large points gap develop between themselves and the leaders if they fail to beat Birmingham.
Liverpool are evens to take maximum points from St Andrews and 18/1 to display the form necessary to see them crowned Premier League champions in May.
However, Hodgson’s main goal may be to see Liverpool regain their position in the top four of the table to assure Champions League football next season and they are 13/8 to achieve this feat.
Kuyt is 100/1 to end the season as the top goalscorer in the division and teammate Torres is a much shorter 9/1. See the entire Premier League top scorer market.
