Baros suffers broken ankle

Report: Blackburn 1-3 Liverpool

Liverpool have been rocked by the news that Czech striker Milan Baros will be out until next year after suffering a broken ankle during Saturday's win at Blackburn.

Baros was hurt following an innocuous tackle by former Liverpool team-mate Markus Babbel, who is on loan at Ewood Park, and has already undergone surgery.

Liverpool spokesman Ian Cotton told the Liverpool website: "Milan had a two-hour operation on Saturday night which went very well, and he has had a plate inserted in his ankle.

"But he's not expected back until next year."

Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier said he did not hold Babbel responsible for Baros' injury, but was less impressed with Neill who was dismissed for his X-rated tackle.

He said: "It is a sour victory, a victory marred by the fact we lost two players injured.

"Milan has a broken ankle and will be operated on Saturday or Sunday it's a bad injury.

"But the referee did the right thing - it was not even a foul, Markus tackled properly and got the ball and it probably happened when he fell over on the floor.

Souness had to be pulled away from Houllier

"I have known Markus for a long time, he is not a dirty and nasty player and he was distraught at the end, he's the last player who would do that to one of our players.

"I don't know how long Jamie will be out for but it was a very bad tackle."

Houllier became embroiled in a heated exchange with Blackburn's ex-Liverpool midfielder David Thompson and with Graeme Souness during the game after Thompson seemed to aim a punch at John Arne Riise.

The Liverpool manager added: "I was not happy with what David Thompson had done.

"When a player tries to hit another player when the ball is not there and the referee is not looking I get very, very angry and I think Graeme would have done the same.

"I don't think David Thompson needs to do that because he's a good player and if he had kept his cool he could have caused more problems to us.

"Even the fourth official saw what he tried to do to Riise."

Houllier hits out at Neill

Defender Jamie Carragher also suffered a broken leg after a reckless two-footed challenge by Blackburn's Lucas Neill.

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