Liverpool will be without influential midfielder Mohamed Sissoko
for three months as he requires surgery on his dislocated
shoulder.
Sissoko sustained the injury during the 1-0 Carling Cup win at
Birmingham on Wednesday after landing awkwardly following a
challenge on Medhi Nafti.
"Unfortunately Momo requires surgery which is scheduled to take
place next week," said a Liverpool spokesman.
"It is anticipated he will be out of action for three
months."
Sissoko was sidelined last season when he suffered a serious eye
injury during Liverpool's 1-0 defeat by Benfica in the Champions
League.
And Benitez added: "They are not very common injuries, the kind he
has sustained, it was his eye last season and now the
shoulder.
"It was an accident but it was clear something was wrong. Momo is a
player who doesn't like to stay on the ground.
"Now we have to manage with the players we have until January and I
am happy with the squad but when you lose a player that is playing
every game like Momo, it is a problem."
Sissoko received treatment for more than five minutes before he was
carried off from the field on a stretcher and replaced by Xavi
Alonso.
Benitez signed Sissoko for £5m from Spanish club Valencia in July
2005.