Liverpool face an anxious wait from the medical team who are currently assessing the extent of ankle and knee injuries for defender Martin Skrtel.
The centre-back has been forced to pull out of Slovakia’s international friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday evening.
Skrtel picked up the injuries during Liverpool’s dreary 2-0 defeat to Stoke City on Saturday, and now faces a race against time to be fit for Saturday’s Premier League clash at home to West Ham.
“I’ve had problems with my knee and ankle,” he told SITA. “Before half-time, one of the opposing players kicked me in the knee from behind and I had to finish the game under pain-killers.
“Besides that, I also twisted my ankle, which has been haunting me since a friendly game against Costa Rice in June.
“Right after the game on Sunday, I called the Slovakia coach and explained my situation to him. I’m glad he understood and gave me free time.
“It would make no sense to travel to Slovakia and be there for two days when it is uncertain whether I would play or not.
“If it was a qualifier I would surely travel, but this way we have agreed it’s better for me to stay in Liverpool and try to recover.”
