Joel Matip has returned to full team training ahead of Liverpool's trip to Brighton this weekend, but Jurgen Klopp is still considering using Fabinho as a makeshift centre-back.
Matip has been out of action since breaking his collarbone in the final moments of the Reds' crucial Champions League win over Napoli at Anfield last month.
The former Cameroon international joined Joe Gomez (broken leg) on the sidelines, while Dejan Lovren has since sustained a hamstring injury that will keep him out of Saturday's game.
But he could return to the squad at the Amex Stadium after resuming training on Thursday, along with captain Jordan Henderson.
Asked for fitness update, Klopp said: "Joel trained yesterday first time with the team, which is already really good but we have to see. We have to decide day-by-day how he is doing. He feels good, that's good for us.
"Hendo will train today, first time, and we will see what that means exactly. Adam [Lallana] out. Dejan out. Joe of course out. All are improving, obviously, that is clear. I know they are not available."
On Lovren's potential return date, he added: "I don't know. It's not that serious. It's a muscle thing and I would expect him back maybe after Crystal Palace - I'm not sure. We have to see."
With Lovren and Gomez definitely out of the visit to the south coast and Matip likely short of match fitness, Klopp is weighing up whether to use midfielder Fabinho in the centre of defence once again.
The Brazilian impressed in what is an unfamiliar position despite the Reds' going down to a 2-1 defeat at Wolves in the FA Cup earlier this week, and is expected to reprise his role on Saturday.
He continued: "If Fabinho has to play as a centre-half, we are not sure, he has played it before but of course we do that on the training pitch.
"We have a lot of information but it can complicate things. What we want is the natural understanding of the game because it is still only football and if you are a holding six or a centre-half with the ball it is easier, without the ball it is different because you don't have a line behind you.
"But that is pretty much the two most important things: use the one and be prepared for the other and everything will be fine.
"You have helpful players around, one player usually can't decide a game – up front it happens from time to time – but in defence you need the boys around you.
"We speak in the week but try to not make it more complicated than it is."
Probable XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Milner, Shaqiri, Mane, Salah, Firmino.
