Soccer: Liverpool's Garcia out for the season

Liverpool's hopes of emulating their 2005 Champions League triumph were dealt a major blow today when influential midfielder Luis Garcia was ruled out for the rest of the season.

The Spaniard was stretchered off during Liverpool's humiliating 6-3 English League Cup quarter-final loss against Arsenal at Anfield on Wednesday and now faces a protracted spell on the sidelines after a scan confirmed he'd ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

"Unfortunately we expect to be without Luis for six months," said Liverpool spokesman Ian Cotton.

Garcia has been Liverpool's most consistent performer in Europe this season and was widely regarded as being crucial to the club's hopes of beating reigning champions Barcelona in next month's second round tie.

Meanwhile Liverpool's Chilean midfielder Mark Gonzalez faces up to three weeks out with a shin injury he sustained against the Gunners. A scan revealed no fracture but severe tissue and bone bruising on his right shin.

Before Tuesday's match, no visiting side had scored six goals at Anfield since Sunderland's 6-0 win way back in 1930.

Last weekend Arsenal also knocked holders Liverpool out of the FA Cup and with Rafael Benitez's men now 14 points behind Premiership leaders Manchester United, the Champions League would appear to represent the Merseyside club's only chance of silverware this season.

- AFP