Carragher injury is major blow, says Fabio Aurelio

Fabio Aurelio admits losing Jamie Carragher is a major setback but insists Liverpool won't fear this season's FA Cup showdown with Manchester United.

Carragher is facing an extended spell on the sidelines after dislocating his shoulder in yesterday's last-gasp 2-1 defeat at Tottenham.

The defender, who was making his 450th league appearance, will have the injury assessed at Melwood today but is likely to be missing for at least a month.

With skipper Steven Gerrard also currently out with a hamstring problem, Brazilian Aurelio admits the absence of Carragher will be keenly felt.

"We don't know yet how bad Carra's injury is," Aurelio said.

"But not having him in the team will be a really big blow for us.

"We just hope it's not too serious and he's back playing for us soon became he's so important for us."

Carragher landed awkwardly in the closing stages of yesterday's game and went off in obvious discomfort.

The centre-back was sorely missed as in stoppage time Aaron Lennon burst through to leave the Reds with nothing to show for a gutsy performance. It leaves Roy Hodgson's side 10th in the Premier League - six points adrift of fifth and only five clear of the drop zone.

Shortly after the final whistle the Reds discovered they had been drawn away to leaders Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup on the weekend of January 8/9.

The rivals last met in the Cup in the fifth round in 2006 when a goal from Peter Crouch secured a 1-0 victory en route to Liverpool lifting the trophy in Cardiff.

Aurelio said: "That will be a very big game because there's such a big rivalry between the clubs.

"It's going to be difficult but we will look forward to it.

"That's the kind of game everyone will want to play in."

Aurelio, who came off the bench yesterday, believes that the Reds paid the price for missed chances against Spurs.

"If you look at the opportunities we had in both halves there were some very good ones but we didn't take them," he said.

"In a match like that against a big opponent who are in very good form you can't afford to miss chances like that.

"We played some really good football, especially in midfield where we kept the ball well. We couldn't finish off some great moves.

"If we had done it would have a very different result. We certainly deserved to get something from the game."

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