Liverpool goalkeeper and hero of Istanbul Jerzy Dudek fell awkwardly during training today and had to be rushed to hospital. Liverpool’s official website reports that the Polish star was sent for x-rays at a hospital near to the Melwood training facility amid fears he had dislocated his elbow. The club’s medical staff treated him at the scene.
Dudek is currently considered Liverpool’s number two since the arrival of Pepe Reina from Spain, but has been kept off the pitch for Champions League games so far to avoid him becoming cup-tied in case of a transfer for him. If the injury is confirmed then he won’t be getting transferred before the end of this transfer window, which may bring about his long-term reprieve as a keeper for the European Champions. Scott Carson played all of the game in Liverpool’s last Champions League qualifier.
Also injured is new signing Bolo Zenden, who’s been ruled out of Liverpool’s trip to Bulgaria to face CSKA Sofia. The midfielder will be receiving treatment on a thigh injury. Rafa Benitez says Zenden’s absence should only be for the one game: "Zenden won’t travel to Sofia as he has a
problem with his thigh but I think he will be fine for the
Middlesbrough game."
Antonio Barragan is given a surprise call-up to the squad. Barragan was signed in the summer from Seville, but wasn’t expected to figure in first team action for some time as he’d been brought in for the future. He’s been given squad number 36 for the game. Another surprise call-up is Milan Baros. Baros has been set to leave Anfield all summer, and may yet still do so, but Benitez has sent a message out that he’s still waiting for the right offer. The Czech Republic star has been left out of all four of Liverpool’s Champions League games, although he has been an unused substitute earlier on. Rafa said: ""Baros is in the squad and at this moment he is our
player. There has been rumours about his future and we have had some
offers for him which have not been good enough in our opinion."