Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara’s recovery from a knee problem is likely to keep him out until January.
The Spain international has not played since last month’s Merseyside derby when he was injured in a tackle which saw Everton forward Richarlison sent off.
While he has trained on a couple of occasions, the new signing is not currently ready to join in sessions and the PA news agency understands it will be early January before he is fit to play.
However, there has been no setback and no surgery is required but it has meant Thiago has played just 45 minutes at Chelsea and 90 minutes against Everton.
“Thiago we have to maybe clarify it a little bit,” said manager Jurgen Klopp.
“On that day when Thiago got injured in that challenge in the Everton game, there was another bad injury (to Virgil van Dijk) and after the scans it was like one was really bad news and the other one was really good news because nothing was broken, nothing was ruptured and stuff like this.
“But, as we realise now, it was still a massive impact on the knee. The problem is in a situation like that, nothing is ruptured and nothing is broken and that means everybody thinks, ‘OK, you can go after a few days’, but the impact on the leg was that big that it is still not OK.
“It is not massive and he trains from time to time, not in the moment because we just have to realise that we have to go a few further steps.
“I can’t say exactly when he will be fine, but it will take a few weeks still with Thiago.”
Klopp will again have to juggle his limited resources – midfielder Naby Keita has a chance of being fit but Trent Alexander-Arnold is still a little way from being ready – for the Champions League visit of Ajax.
A draw will be enough for Liverpool to qualify for the knockout stage, by virtue of a better head-to-head against both the Dutch side and Atalanta, and mean next month’s match against Midtjylland will be of less significance and Klopp could rest players.
“I actually don’t see it in that perspective. That would mean I could count on the points already,” said Klopp.
“We deal with the situation how it is. Three points would be great, absolutely great, and it is so clear it would help us massively but I didn’t think I’d have to mention it.
“It is an important game against a really good team, that’s the way we want to approach it.”
The club will this week submit a planning application to Liverpool City Council for the proposed expansion of its Anfield Road Stand.
Plans for the submission – to increase capacity by 7,000 to over 61,000 – were paused in spring this year due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of the application, the club is also seeking permanent permission to hold concerts and major events at the Stadium.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here