Dudek was key to Liverpool's Champions League victory

The Poland keeper, who starred for Liverpool in the Champions League final, was initially treated at the ground and then taken to hospital.

The injury means Liverpool will not be able to sell him before the transfer deadline at the end of the month.

Boss Rafa Benitez said: "It happened in the last minutes of training."

Dudek has fallen behind Spaniard Jose Reina and young Englishman Scott Carson in the pecking order at Anfield.

He has attracted interest from Sporting Lisbon but Dudek, who has two years left on his contract, has stressed he wants to stay and fight for his place.

Benitez has so far been happy to keep the man whose penalty saves against AC Milan secured the European Cup in Istanbul in May.

Dudek has not yet played in Liverpool's Champions League qualifiers however, with Benitez reluctant to cup-tie him in case a good offer came in.

Yet any prospect of the player leaving Anfield will now have to wait until the January transfer window.

Liverpool spokesman Ian Cotton added: "Jerzy has a fracture-dislocation of his elbow. He saw a specialist on Monday and will see another on Tuesday for further investigation.

"He will be out of action for three months."