Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has suffered another damaging blow with Thiago Alcantara ahead of Saturday evening's Premier League tie with Brentford at Anfield.
The Spaniard has sat out the Reds' last two matches, and it has now been revealed that he will undergo surgery on a hip injury, ruling him out for the final four games of the campaign.
Thiago now represents one of several injury concerns for the hosts, who also have Stefan Bajcetic (adductor) and Calvin Ramsay (knee) rehabilitating from season-ending injuries.
Roberto Firmino and Naby Keita also remain out with muscular problems, while Diogo Jota (rib) and Jordan Henderson (unspecified) have emerged as fresh concerns too.
Klopp unsurprisingly made a few alterations for the 1-0 win over Fulham on Wednesday, where Kostas Tsimikas was chosen from the off at left-back, but Andrew Robertson is primed to come back in for the Greek defender here.
Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold should form an otherwise untouched backline in front of Alisson Becker, who made two crucial stops from Carlos Vinicius to preserve his side's win and clean sheet in midweek.
Henderson forced Harvey Elliott out of the team for the visit of the Cottagers, but the Englishman's injury could now lead to a recall for the latter as Curtis Jones and Fabinho complete the engine room.
Fresh from scoring his 185th goal in Liverpool colours, Mohamed Salah will continue up front as ever, while Cody Gakpo should be a straight swap for Jota as the Portuguese recovers from his lingering concern.
Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz could engage in a fierce battle for the left-wing position, but the latter may not be risked from the off for a third game running given his recent return from knee surgery.
Liverpool possible starting lineup: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Fabinho, Elliott; Salah, Gakpo, Nunez
Ben Knapton
