Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva has thanked fans for their support after he was ruled out for the rest of the season through injury.

The 24-year-old was stretchered off during the Reds' Carling Cup win against Chelsea on Tuesday after he had damaged anterior cruciate ligaments in his left knee.

"I didn't realise what an impact my injury could make on the fans," he told the club's official webstie. "A lot of people have been sending me positive messages, and this makes me feel stronger.

"I know at the moment I haven't had time to think too much about the injury and I am just trying to get everything ready for the operation, but I know when I have difficult times during my rehab one of the things that I will remember will be the messages.

"I want to say thank you very much for all the messages the fans have sent me on the website and on my Twitter page too. I have read a lot of them and all of them have been very positive. They have given me more confidence to come back strongly."

Meanwhile, manager Kenny Dalglish has claimed that the team will be tested after the loss of the Brazilian.