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Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson will be sidelined for a further two months with a fresh injury in his right foot.
The midfielder was thought to be in contention to return against Norwich City this weekend, having not played since sustaining a separate, unrelated heel injury against Bournemouth last month.
Henderson visited a specialist in the United States earlier this week to receive treatment on his heel and returned to training at Melwood on Friday.
Show all 17 1 /17Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 6 Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 6 17) Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle) - re-entry Steve McClaren has not got off to a pretty start in Tyneside. No wins, just two points, new signings faltering and the longest injury list in the division. Watford should be a very winnable game for the Toon, and Sissoko, though not performing like he did last season, is still the man that makes the team tick. Last fixture: L - 0-2 - West Ham Next fixture: Watford (h)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 6 16) Dusan Tadic (Southampton) - up 1 Didn't set The Hawthorns on fire last week after a two-goal performance against Norwich, but was a decisive performer the last time Southampton met Man United, scoring the winner after coming on as a sub at Old Trafford. Last fixture: D - 0-0 - West Brom Next fixture: Man United (h)
Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 6 15) Bafetimbi Gomis (Swansea) - up 1 Wilfried who? Jefferson Montero and Andre Ayew have taken much credit for the Swans' brilliant start but the powerful Gomis just keeps scoring. Nine goals in his last 11 Premier League matches stretching back to last season, although he went scoreless in the disappointing defeat at Watford. Last fixture: L - 0-1 - Watford Next fixture: Everton (h)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 6 14) Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City) - new entry An absolutely superb individual performance by the Irishman bought a goal and an assist - the Cherries just couldn't handle him at all at Carrow Road. Now seems as good a time as ever to face a struggling Liverpool side. If Hoolahan is at his best he'll cause all sorts of trouble for the Reds leaky defence. Last fixture: W - 3-1 - Bournemouth Next fixture: Liverpool (a)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 6 13) Callum Wilson (Bournemouth) - non-mover The rapid striker barely got a sniff at Carrow Road but in his budding top flight career has proved he is cut out for life in the Premier League with four goals already this season. Sunderland are relegation favourites and one of the team's Bournemouth absolutely must beat if they are to stay in the division. Last fixture: L - 1-3 - Norwich Next fixture: Sunderland (h)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 6 12) Jermain Defoe (Sunderland) - down 7 The veteran striker had his big moment against his former club... and completely blew it, making a poor connection and dragging his shot onto the post. Sunderland are already looking desperate and can't really afford to have their main man missing those kinds of chances if they are to stay up. Last fixture: L - 0-1 - Spurs Next fixture: Bournemouth (a)
Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 6 11) Petr Cech (Arsenal) - re-entry The big goalkeeper returns to the ground where he set numerous records and won numerous titles Last fixture: W - 2- 0 - Stoke Next fixture: Chelsea (a)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 6 10) Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) - up 1 The goals are still not coming for the England striker and neither are the chances. He seems to be playing too deep these days, trying to get involved in areas of the pitch where, frankly, he's not yet good enough to be. Should worry about being on the end of crosses and through balls rather than providing them. Son should help. Last fixture: W - 1- 0 - Sunderland Next fixture: Crystal Palace (h)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 6 9) David De Gea (Manchester United) - new-entry Back in the team and just about back in his place as the best stopper in the Premier League. Didn't have masses to do against Liverpool but did what he needed very well. United are a million times better with him between the sticks. Last fixture: W - 3-1 0 - Liverpool Next fixture: Southampton (a)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 6 8) Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) - down 2 It'll be interesting to see how fit Aguero actually is for an interesting clash against West Ham, who have already beaten Arsenal and Liverpool on the road this season. Managed only seven minutes against Juventus and was a massive miss, with Wilfried Bony bullied by the Italians. Last fixture: W - 1-0 - Crystal Palace Next fixture: West Ham (h)
Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 6 7) Christian Benteke (Liverpool) - down 4 An absolute belter of a goal doesn't mask the fact that Benteke was pretty much a passenger at Old Trafford. His Liverpool team-mates were unable to find him when he did make runs but at other times he stuck to Chris Smalling rather than try and out-muscle the physically inferior Daley Blind, strange. Last fixture: L - 3-1 - Man United Next fixture: Norwich (h)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 6 6) Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) - up 2 What a brilliant comeback and what a brilliant season the Algerian is having. The Foxes will surely get some phonecalls as to his availability if he keeps playing anything close to the level he is currently operating. The most in-form winger in the division has already been responsible for six goals this season (four goals, two assists) more than any other player. Last fixture: W - 3-2 Aston Villa (a) Next fixture: Stoke (a)
Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 6 5) John Stones (Everton) - up 2 His stock just doesn't stop rising. Up against the team who chased him all summer John Stones played like a demon, keeping Diego Costa in his pocket, breaking forward to start attacks and looking inspirational and like a future England captain. He'll be worth £50m by the time January comes around. Last fixture: W - 3-1 - Chelsea (a) Next fixture: Swansea (a)
Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 6 4) Dmitri Payet (West Ham) - new entry The signing of the summer so far, we apologise for not having him on the list sooner. Not only are his goals impressive, Payet sets the tone for the Hammers with his high enery, hard working style that inspires others around him. Possesses immense quality and an eye for the spectacular. Last fixture: W - 2-0 - Newcastle Next fixture: Man City (a)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 6 3) Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) - up 1 Yet to score this season - only a tremendous Jack Butland save got in the way of that - Sanchez should be relishing his trip to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea's defence has been in disarray this season and he will either be facing Branislav Ivanovic, probably the worst player in the division this season, or Cesar Azpilicueta, a man who has spent the last 18 months playing on the opposite flank. Last fixture: W - 2-0 - Stoke Next fixture: Chelsea (a)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 6 2) David Silva (Manchester City) - non-mover Had a hard time of it against Juventus but remains, with Sergio Aguero less than 100 per cent, the most talented player in the league's most talented side. Everything revolves around him. Last fixture: W - 1-0 - Crystal Palace Next fixture: West Ham (h)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 6 1) Eden Hazard (Chelsea) - up 8 It's the last chance saloon for Hazard, it has to be. A dreadful individual season for the Player of the Year got even worse when he absolutely skied his penalty against Maccabi in midweek. From there he only slightly improved against a third-rate team that any Chelsea XI would have comfortably beat. If he doesn't perform against Arsenal then Jose Mourinho will surely have no choice but to give his biggest star a spell on the sidelines. Last fixture: L - 3-1 - Everton Next fixture: Arsenal (h)
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However, the 25-year-old was hurt during the training session, with a scan later confirming that he had suffered a fracture in his right foot.
The news will come as a crushing set-back to manager Brendan Rodgers, who is under pressure to turn results around at Anfield.
Henderson will now undergo minor surgery on Monday, according to the Liverpool Echo , and will be out for around six to eight weeks.
The England international was said to be desperate to return to the side in his first season as club captain.
He now looks set to miss a crucial set of fixtures for the club, including the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park and an away trips to Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea next month.
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