[lfc-news] Pongolle out for season to take edge off final delight - Post

Liverpool Daily Post, 27 Jan 2005
Pongolle out for season to take edge off final delight
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post

LIVERPOOL'S delight at reaching the Carling Cup Final has been tempered
by confirmation Florent Sinama-Pongolle will be out for the rest of the
season.

The young striker was stretchered off within three minutes of being
introduced as a substitute against Watford on Tuesday night after his
knee gave way as he turned sharply.

And Liverpool's worst fears were realised yesterday following a scan
which revealed the 20-year-old had torn his left anterior cruciate
ligament, an injury which can take anything up to six months to heal.

Sinama-Pongolle will undergo keyhole surgery this evening to discover
the full extent of the damage and his rehabilitation time. But he has
little chance of featuring again this term.

The loss of the striker is yet another setback for Rafael Benitez, who
has now lost 12 first-team players through injury for lengthy spells
this season.

It also leaves Liverpool short of attacking options once again but,
contrary to reports yesterday, Newcastle outcast Craig Bellamy is not
being lined up by the Anfield hierarchy as a reinforcement.

Liverpool spokesman Ian Cotton said: "This story is not true."

Anthony Le Tallec remains an option after failing to hold down a regular
place at St Etienne, although Benitez has been in no rush to bring the
attacking French midfielder back from his loan spell so far this season.

Liverpool will have to win the Carling Cup, meanwhile, to guarantee
themselves a place in the UEFA Cup next season.

If Liverpool lose in Cardiff and Chelsea subsequently qualify for the
Champions League, as seems certain, then the side finishing in sixth
place in the Premiership would be awarded a place instead.

Meanwhile Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes the Carling Cup
performances can act as a springboard going into the crucial final few
months of the campaign.

"This result has now given everyone something to look forward to in
February," the defender said. "Not only have we got a major final, we've
got the Champions League kicking off again around the same time.
Sometimes, I don't know what people expect.

The manager's only just arrived. I know we've been inconsistent in the
league and I know the manager would like us to have more points. But he
should be judged much later, not because of one bad week."

Benitez, himself, is also hopeful of a strong finish.

"We have a very good squad with more confidence now," he reflected. "We
know that if we play compact as a team, it is very difficult to beat us."


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