Chelsea have confirmed that skipper John Terry will be out of action "for weeks rather than months" with a knee injury.
The 31-year-old picked up the injury in a clash with Liverpool's Luis Suarez during the 1-1 draw on Sunday and it had been feared that he would miss the rest of the season.
However, the club have stated that Terry "has suffered no significant damage" following the knock, although a date for his return has not been set.
Terry had just returned from a four-match domestic ban before suffering the damage in the first half of Sunday's Premier League match.