Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas is facing a lengthy stint on the sideline after he suffered a broken collarbone in a bizarre sideline collision involving manager Jurgen Klopp.
Midway through the first half of his side's table-topping Premier League clash with Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday morning (AEDT), Tsimikas was hip-and-shouldered by Gunners forward Bukayo Saka, and then tumbled into Klopp, who fell on top of him.
Replays showed the Greek international landed heavily on his shoulder before Klopp landed on his legs.
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While Klopp was uninjured – he lept back to his feet immediately – Tsimikas remained on the ground in obvious pain, and was helped off shortly after.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw. Klopp later told Sky Sports Tsimikas' collarbone was "definitely broken" and he would be "out for a long time".
Tsimikas' injury is another blow to The Reds, given he was only in the side due to a shoulder injury first-choice left back Andy Robertson suffered while on international duties for Scotland in October.
Klopp said the injury was "hard to swallow" given Robertson's extended absence, and "massively overshadowed" what was a positive night for his side.
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"I thought it wasn't really a problem because I had no pain. I would happily give my collarbone and he would be fit again," he said.
"I was completely fine in that moment. I thought Kostas was as well but he said 'no it's broken'.
"Of course that's not cool directly in front of you when you are kind of involved. I wasn't sure if I fell on him or how it happened."
Saka said the contact was an "unfortunate accident".
"I heard he has gone to hospital and I want to apologise. I didn't mean it of course," Saka said.
"For me it was just a 50-50 and I've gone shoulder to shoulder with him. I didn't see him but he must have taken a bad fall.
"I didn't see that he went into Jurgen Klopp either. I was focused on running forward because I didn't think it was a foul."
The draw ensured Arsenal would lead the English Premier League at Christmas for the second year in a row. Liverpool are a point behind in second.
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