This is the picture which will alarm Kenny Dalglish and Fabio Capello.
Steven Gerrard hobbled out of a car on crutches on Sunday with his right leg encased in what appeared to be a cast from his knee to his toes.
The Liverpool captain now has an anxious wait to discover whether he faces another lengthy lay-off after contracting an infection in his right ankle.
The midfielder attended hospital for tests, the results of which will be known in the next couple of days. Until then, Gerrard will be left to wonder about the severity of the infection.
He was forced to miss Liverpool’s 2-0 win at West Brom on Saturday - secured with goals from Charlie Adam and Andy Carroll - after he picked up a knock in training on Friday morning that flared up overnight.
He is almost certain to miss Liverpool’s Barclays Premier League game against Swansea next weekend, as well as England’s friendlies against Spain and Sweden at Wembley, a week on Saturday and four days later respectively.
It would be a devastating blow for Gerrard, though, if he was forced to sit on the sidelines for any longer.
He has only just returned to full fitness following a groin problem, which also became infected and kept him sidelined for six months.
Such was the severity of that injury, Gerrard, 31, admitted fearing whether he would ever play at the highest level again.
Liverpool face a crucial spell after the international break when, in the space of 10 days, they play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge twice - once in the Premier League, once in a Carling Cup quarter-final - and host table-topping Manchester City at Anfield.
That sequence will look even more daunting if Liverpool are deprived of their talisman, who also missed six weeks last winter after damaging his hamstring playing for England against France at Wembley.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, who is also without Jamie Carragher after the defender damaged his calf during the 2-1 Carling Cup win at Stoke, is refusing to put a time limit on how long Gerrard will be out of action.
‘Steven has got an infection in his ankle,’ said the Scot on Saturday. ‘He was in our minds for the game and it just flared up. We will be more accurate next week (in terms of making a diagnosis).
‘It’s nothing to do with any injuries before. It’s an infection. I suppose it’s like having an abscess in your mouth.
‘We are certainly much better with them (Gerrard and Carragher) in the squad. They have been magnificent for the football club and will continue to be so.’
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