Chelsea captain John Terry has suffered "no significant damage" to his right knee after being injured in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Sunday .
The 31-year-old is expected to be out for "weeks rather than months", the club said on Twitter.
Terry had a scan on suspected ligament damage on Monday amid fears he faced a lengthy spell out of action. Terry scored on his return from a four-match ban but was carried off after an accidental collision with Luis Suarez.
Having experienced the joy of giving his side the lead in the 20th minute, Terry was soon in obvious agony following the collision and was carried off on 39 minutes. He left Stamford Bridge on crutches with his right knee in a brace.
"When a player like John reacts like that you know it is a painful one," said Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo.
"When he started the game he scored the goal and showed the qualities he has. He showed his experience and influence. It was a real shame he had to come off."