Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has joked that he will have to come up with a 'magic formation' after being given a defensive headache ahead of the new campaign.
Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are the Reds' only confirmed fit and available senior centre-backs for Tuesday evening's final pre-season friendly against Torino.
Fellow defenders Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan are struggling with hip and hamstring injuries respectively, while Croatia international Dejan Lovren only returned from his post-World Cup holiday on Monday.
Klopp is hoping to find a solution ahead of the big kickoff against West Ham United next weekend, telling the Liverpool Echo: "From six to three. Dejan didn't train so far. He is back Monday so probably won't play Tuesday and Sunday will be very difficult as well.
"Joel, we will have to see. Klavan, should not be too serious, but if Tuesday is too early I don't know yet. Maybe we will do some magic things with the formation on Tuesday. I don't know how we will do it.
"We have another game on Tuesday and we need to make sure we use that game as well. Then we have another five days. Now we have to make sure we find the 11 who are ready for the start and finish of the game.
"Obviously that is a different thing. We can't change six players after 60 minutes. The first two [Premier League] games at least are in the 'pre-season' [for the World Cup players]. It is like that a bit for the other teams but I'm not sure for West Ham and Crystal Palace."
Liverpool conceded 38 goals in the top flight last season - a tally bettered by only three other sides.
Daniel Lewis
