Martin Skrtel Sent off During West Ham U21s vs. Liverpool U21s Semi-Final

Martin Skrtel was sent off in extra time as Liverpool's U21 side were downed 3-2 by West Ham United in the semi-finals of the Premier League Cup on Wednesday. 

Per Neil Jones in the Liverpool Echo, Skrtel and Jon Flanagan both started in defence for the Reds' youth side, but the Slovakia international was shown a second yellow card after a challenge on Hammers midfielder Martin Samuelsen.

Though it proved a blow for the U21 side, who went on to lose their last-four clash, Skrtel's game time is a positive for senior manager Jurgen Klopp, as he has not played for Liverpool since the December match against Watford. 

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Liverpool were 2-1 down when Skrtel was given his marching orders. Sheyi Ojo's equaliser looked to have forced a penalty shootout at Rush Green, but Stephen Hendrie's goal eventually dealt the Reds the killer blow.

The 31-year-old has been out of action for the first team since suffering a hamstring tear away at the Hornets on December 20.

He was an unused substitute as Liverpool beat Manchester City 3-0 earlier this month, but he is still fighting to get back in the starting XI.

Skrtel is seemingly nearing full-match fitness again but will play no part in the Reds' UEFA Europa League last-16 second leg against Manchester United on Thursday.

He may, though, be back in action when Klopp's side travel to Southampton on Sunday. Dejan Lovren, Mamadou Sakho and Kolo Toure have covered well in Skrtel's absence, but given his immense experience, he should give Liverpool's defence a boost in the latter stages of the season.

His U21 team-mates will not thank him for being sent off at such a key moment against West Ham, but he now seems on the verge of a first-team return.