Dejan Lovren is currently not in Jurgen Klopp's plans for next week's Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich, the Liverpool boss has confirmed.
But Georginio Wijnaldum is set to be available for Tuesday's game against the German champions having returned to full training today.
Lovren has been battling a hamstring issue since being withdrawn just five minutes into the Reds' FA Cup defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers on January 7.
The Croatian was unable to join his teammates at a four-day training camp in Spain this week but will return to Melwood on Saturday hoping to prove his fitness.
His absence would leave Klopp facing a significant selection headache in defence, with Virgil van Dijk suspended for Bayern's visit to Merseyside and Joe Gomez still sidelined due to a leg fracture.
Asked for an update on Lovren's fitness, the manager told the club's official website: “I don’t want to rule it out but I cannot really plan with it.
“He is not here for good reasons, because he cannot be part of training. We are back on Friday. Then from Saturday on, Dejan is back at Melwood and we will see.
“But, of course, we have to prepare it differently. If Dejan gives a sign on Monday – ‘I feel brilliant’ – then we’d have to think anew.
“But in the moment we prepare the game and in this preparation Dejan is not involved. We have to find other solutions.”
Wijnaldum overcame illness and a slight knee issue to score as Liverpool earned a 3-0 victory over Bournemouth on Saturday.
And, following a period of rest, the Dutchman is ready to step up his training regime in order to stake his claim to start once against in midweek.
“Gini didn’t train yet, that’s of course not cool after a very intense game for him,” Klopp added.
“So he had a little dip, but will start today so that’s good.”
