Liverpool's Xabi Alonso offers support as Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas faces lay-off

"If anything, I'm even more upset than Fabregas is. It always affects me to see a companion injured, but especially if it is a friend and a national team-mate like Cesc.

"I already went to see him after the game, and from what he told me we both expected it was something serious. But I spoke with him on Monday and, bearing in mind the situation, he was in quite good spirits."

On the challenge that caused the injury, Alonso added: "It was just another incident of the game and, of course, there was no malicious intent."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: "The news is not good. It will take three to four months, we count four. He will be working hard to come back earlier but I count four months."

Meanwhile, Alvaro Arbeloa has dismissed claims from Emmanuel Adebayor that the Liverpool defender had acted like "he had put a knife in him" in order to get the Togo striker sent off on Sunday.

"Adebayor is a player who uses his arms and elbows when he is playing and usually that means a foul," said Arbeloa. "I had nothing to do with the sending-off. I don't feel like it was my fault, it was what Adebayor did.

"I am a professional and I would never play-act to get someone sent off.

"I do not want to get involved in any controversy with Arsenal, but I received a blow in the face and a foul and if the ref then shows a yellow card that is not my problem."