Michael Carrick was today ruled out for up to six weeks after breaking a bone in his foot.

The Manchester United midfielder suffered the damage in a tackle by Yossi Benayoun during Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Liverpool and left Anfield on crutches.

United announced Carrick will be sidelined for at least four weeks and manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: “It's not turned out well for us. He has a small crack in his foot which was diagnosed on Sunday afternoon. It isn't good news.”

The injury is a blow for the England international, who has only just resumed playing after three weeks out with an ankle problem.

Carrick could miss as many as nine matches, including Sunday's clash against Chelsea and the first half of United's Champions League group campaign, which begins against Villarreal tomorrow.

Dimitar Berbatov's hopes of making his European debut are in doubt as the former Tottenham striker is struggling with a knee problem.

Defender Wes Brown, however, should recover from an identical injury to face the Spaniards.

Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to be on the bench as he makes his long‑awaited comeback from ankle surgery but Paul Scholes is suspended.