Liverpool FC Forum

Liverpool fear for Sissoko's eyesight
By Tim Rich
(23/02/2006)



In the chaos of Lisbon Airport around midnight on Tuesday, it was possible to feel sorry for the Liverpool players, who found themselves wedged in among supporters happy to see them and happier to delay them with requests for autographs and photos.

However, Mohamed Sissoko would unquestionably have preferred to be caught up in the crush. Instead the Mali midfielder returned to John Lennon Airport yesterday evening, accompanied by just the club doctor and physio. Liverpool confirmed that an overnight stay in a Lisbon hospital had revealed his blurred vision had been caused by retina damage inflicted when Beto's boot accidentally caught him in the face during the 1-0 defeat by Benfica.

There were real fears last night that Sissoko may not just be out for the season but that the injury might permanently impair his eyesight. Reports in Portugal suggested that the doctor treating Sissoko was pessimistic about his diagnosis, although Liverpool are not expected to make a statement until after further scans. The one consolation for Liverpool is that unlike Manchester United's Paul Scholes, who has not played since complaining of blurred vision in December, they at least know the cause of Sissoko's ailment.

In the practical, unemotional terms of team selection, midfield is the one area where Rafael Benitez has deep resources. Had Beto caught one of his central defenders, the Liverpool manager might face some serious anxiety before the return at Anfield.

Sky Sports

Liverpool are sweating over an update regarding Momo Sissoko's eye problem with fears growing that it could force him to retire.



The powerful midfielder suffered damage to the retina of his eye after being accidentally kicked in the face by Benfica's Beto during Tuesday's UEFA Champions League defeat in Lisbon.

Sissoko was forced to spend a night in hospital in Portugal with the injury and clinical director at the hospital Joao Paco admitted there is a chance the player may lose sight in his eye.

"The prognosis is guarded but vision is going to be compromised on the right side, it may be 80 or 20 percent, but we can't say yet," said Paco.

"He suffered trauma with bruising to the eye but there was no apparent destruction of the structure."

The former Valencia ace is expected to undergo more tests on his eye on Thursday as Liverpool look to find out the full extent of the problem.