Jurgen Klopp has admitted that Joel Matip's injury is taking more time to heal that he would like.
Cameroon international Matip has been sidelined for Liverpool since their 1-1 draw with Manchester United at the end of October.
Matip underwent tests on his damaged knee on Friday and it appears to be bad news for the centre back - with Klopp ruling him out of the Reds' Merseyside derby with Everton on Wednesday.
“Joel needs a bit more time, it’s healing but it’s not exactly how we wished for,” Klopp said.
“It needs a bit more time, so that will take a while.
“The rest are fit. The long-term injuries not in, but all the others are fit and available.”
Liverpool will have two other absentees for the clash with their neighbours - with Fabinho missing again through his ankle injury and Alisson suspended.
Fabinho is out for around six weeks following ligament damage sustained during the Reds' Champions League draw with Napoli last week.
Keeper Alisson is suspended after his dismissal against Brighton at the weekend - the Brazilian handled the ball outside his area to see red.
Meanwhile, Klopp believes Virgil Van Dijk should have won the Ballon d'Or but understands why Lionel Messi lifted it for a sixth time.
The Holland captain came second to the Argentina forward despite having a huge influence on the Reds winning the Champions League and overcoming Messi's Barcelona in the semi-final.
"I see it slightly different and a lot of people see it slightly different but that's absolutely no problem," said the Liverpool manager.
"Lionel Messi, I've said probably 500,000 times in my life already, is probably the best player I saw in my lifetime.
"But I cannot remember a more impressive season from a defender ever. Honestly. So it would have been right if Virg won it, I heard it was pretty close."
