Jurgen Klopp admits Joel Matip’s injury is “not too good” after the Liverpool centre-back suffered another setback.
And Naby Keita is also facing a spell on the sidelines as the Reds grapple with fitness concerns once more.
Matip limped off after an hour of the 1-1 Premier League draw at home to West Bromwich Albion at Anfield on Sunday.
The Cameroonian will undergo scans on Monday to ascertain the extent of the damage, and is a major doubt for Wednesday’s trip to Newcastle United.
And Klopp delivered a gloomy medical bulletin immediately after the final whistle.
“Joel told me he felt something in his adductor, that’s obviously not too good,” said the Reds boss.
“Not sure how serious it is now but it was serious enough that he had to leave the pitch.
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“It’s not the first time a centre-half is injured (this season). It’s of course not good.
“He was in a really good shape again. We cannot change that and we have to accept it and carry on.”
With Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez long-term absentees, 19-year-old Rhys Williams replaced Matip for only his second Premier League outing to join makeshift centre-back Fabinho in the heart of defence.
Nat Phillips, an unused substitute against West Brom, and teenager Billy Koumetio are the only other recognised centre-back options to have featured for the first team this season.
Keita, meanwhile, was absent against West Brom and is almost certain to sit out the midweek clash at Newcastle.
“Naby felt again a muscle,” added Klopp. “We don’t know exactly for how long but he wasn’t ready for today and not for Wednesday I don’t think. We will see.”
