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Liverpool's Sebastian Coates could miss the rest of the season after suffering a serious knee injury while playing for Uruguay, says boss Brendan Rodgers.

Defender Coates, 22, has failed to establish himself since arriving in 2011 and has been linked with a move.

Rodgers said: "I feel for Seba. It is probably going to rule him out for most of the season, which is a big problem.

"This was probably a year where he needed to go out and play. This has unfortunately put an end to that."

The injury to Coates occurred during his country's 4-2 win over Japan on 14 August.

Fellow defender Martin Skrtel has been linked with a move to join former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez at Napoli.

But Rodgers denied there had been an approach and said he would be looking to sign another defender as cover for Coates.

Rodgers said: "I think it is something we are looking at certainly, a player to come in in that position. One to strengthen the squad and two to allow some of our younger players to develop.

"I think to maximise Andre Wisdom's talent we need to get him some games and the idea is to get him out on loan.

"We can only do that if I get in someone with more experience to support the group."