Garcia will miss rest of season

Garcia was stretchered off against Arsenal on Tuesday

Liverpool midfielder Luis Garcia has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury.

The 28-year-old Spaniard ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Tuesday's 6-3 Carling Cup defeat by Arsenal.

Liverpool head of press Ian Cotton said: "Unfortunately we expect to be without Luis for six months."

Meanwhile, Chilean midfielder Mark Gonzalez faces up to three weeks out with a shin injury.

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An X-ray confirmed there was no fracture, but a scan has revealed severe soft tissue bruising and bruising to the bone of his right shin.

Garcia's injury means he will miss Liverpool's return to his former club Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League in February.

He was injured after coming on as a substitute against the Gunners, falling awkwardly after an aerial challenge and being carried off on a stretcher.