The former Chelsea man has been touch-and-go since rolling on his ankle in training this week and will now likely miss the rest of the year

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed that striker Daniel Sturridge will be sidelined for up to eight weeks with an ankle injury.

Sturridge rolled over on his ankle in training on Friday, causing it to sprain and was touch-and-go going into this weekend’s game with Hull City, but will now most likely miss the rest of 2013.

The England international was forced to have scans after limping away with the injury as Liverpool medical staff could not determine the extent of the damage caused. The 24-year-old’s absence sees Luis Suarez start against Hull on his own up top for the Reds.

Such a lengthy absence may cause some strain on Liverpool’s attacking force, with summer recruits Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto yet to acclimatise to the Premier League and pressure will mount on Suarez to keep the Merseyside team’s title fight alive.

The Christmas period sees a busy and challenging schedule for Brendan Rodgers’ side, with trips to Tottenham, Manchester City and Chelsea before the year is up.