Cape Town – Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard could face another lengthy spell on the sidelines after he left a local hospital on crutches with his right leg plastered up to his knee.

Gerrard only recently made his long protracted comeback to Kenny Dalglish’s starting XI and was expected to feature for the Reds before their 2-0 success over West Bromwich Albion, managed by former boss, Roy Hodgson.

However, Reds fans learned that their talismanic skipper would not play after medical staff revealed Gerrard’s right ankle had swollen after it picked up an infection, believed to be as a result of a cut sustained during Friday’s training session.

According to the Guardian’s website, fluid has already been drained from the affected area and the extent of the injury will only be known in the next 48 hours.

“Steven has got an infection in his ankle," the Liverpool manager said after Saturday’s match at the Hawthorns .

“He was in our minds for the (West Bromwich Albion) game and it (the infectious ankle) just flared up. We will be more accurate next week (in terms of a prognosis). It has nothing to do with any injury before. It's an infection. I suppose it's like having an abscess in your mouth."

Dalglish added that Reds fans need not be worried about the status of Gerrard, along with fellow injured Liverpudlian and vice-captain, Jamie Carragher as they managed to bag all three points without the hugely influential duo.

"We are certainly much better with them (Gerrard and Carragher) in the squad than out of it. They have done magnificently for this football club and they will continue to do magnificently for us too.

"They will continue to make a contribution, even now.

"I suppose it is a reflection on the strength of the squad when the two talismanic figures aren't playing and you still come and put on such a top performance."