MARTIN KELLY is facing a spell on the sidelines after injury was added to the insult of a dismal defeat for Liverpool at Upton Park.
Both Kelly and Raul Meireles were forced to hobble off early as Kenny Dalglish’s side saw their eight-match unbeaten run halted when slumping 3-1 at struggling West Ham United yesterday.
Kelly’s injury is the greater concern, with the young defender due to undergo a scan at Melwood today after pulling up with a hamstring problem shortly before the interval.
And Liverpool manager Dalglish admits that the right-back is almost certain to be absent for next weekend’s Anfield showdown with bitter rivals Manchester United.
“Raul took a kick on his knee but Martin’s more serious,” said the Scot.
“We lost the goal just before half-time after Martin had gone off, but we might have lost a goal if he hadn’t gone off.
“That provided them with a great lift.
“A hamstring he would be struggling for Sunday. Raul we don’t know. But I wouldn’t take it as a given that Martin’s out yet.”
First-half strikes from Scott Parker and Demba Ba put the Hammers in a strong position and although Glen Johnson pulled a goal back with six minutes remaining, Carlton Cole’s injury-time strike consigned Liverpool to their 11th Premier League defeat of the season.
The result moved the Hammers off the foot of the table as Dalglish’s men missed the chance to close within five points of the Champions League qualification places.
