Kuyt taken to hospital with ankle injury

Liverpool’s dire season continued on Tuesday as their Dutch international forward Dirk Kuyt was taken to hospital with a right ankle injury.

Kuyt, who has already missed several weeks of the season with a shoulder injury, was taken off in the 29th minute of the Netherlands Euro 2012 qualifier with Sweden after falling awkwardly following an aerial challenge with Daniel Majstorovic.

Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk – whose side made it four wins from four qualifiers with an impressive 4-1 win – believes that the former Feyenoord star could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

“If there is a black spot tonight it is the injury to Kuyt,” said van Marwijk.

“I still don’t know the diagnosis, but I think it is a bad injury.”

Liverpool are in the relegation zone in the Premier League and off the field their owners are engaged in a battle with several of their own directors over the sale of the club.