Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has hinted that new signing Arthur will not start in Wednesday's Champions League opener with Napoli in Group A.
The Brazil international arrived on Merseyside as a deadline-day loan signing from Juventus following the injury that Jordan Henderson sustained against Newcastle United.
Arthur was not expected to receive international clearance in time to face Everton in Saturday's Merseyside derby, but he was given the green light to make the bench at Goodison Park.
The 26-year-old ultimately did not get onto the pitch for his Reds debut, but he will make the journey with the Liverpool squad for his swift return to Italy later this week.
Klopp remains devoid of a number of his midfield options for Wednesday's game, with Henderson joined on the sidelines by Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Curtis Jones and Fabio Carvalho.
However, with Thiago Alcantara, James Milner, Harvey Elliott and Fabinho at his disposal, Klopp has suggested that Arthur will be used off the bench as he builds up his match fitness.
Speaking to reporters at his pre-game press conference, Klopp said: "He needs just football now. He wasn't in team training for a while, that's what we're doing.
"Can he play minutes? Yes. Full game? No. He needs to get used to the intensity. He's doing well, giving his all. We'll see if we can use him."
The Reds boss also offered a wider team update and revealed that Henderson was targeting a return from his hamstring injury after the international break at the end of the month.
Meanwhile, Carvalho and Jones are both absent from the squad list to face Napoli, with the former needing more time to shake off the dead leg he sustained in the Merseyside derby.
Carvalho may be able to return for the weekend's Premier League battle with Wolverhampton Wanderers, as Klopp added: "He is walking around again. He might be ready for the weekend but we're not absolutely sure."
In contrast, Jones has suffered a recurrence of a stress issue in the tibia area, and the Englishman cannot be involved in team training while the injury heals.
"When Curtis was out previously he had a stress reaction in a bone around the tibia. Was absolutely fine no problem anymore, trained twice then felt it again. Not as bad as first time but bad enough not to be in team training again. We have to be careful," Klopp explained.
Liverpool travel to Naples aiming to pick up their first win away from home against Napoli at the fourth attempt, and Klopp is relishing the challenge that Luciano Spalletti's side will provide.
"We never won here but we quite frequently qualified for CL final after Napoli was with us in groups. Maybe twice, once with Dortmund. I am a late bloomer, I need longer to achieve. We have to play better than 3 previous games," the German coach added.
Should Liverpool take home all three points on Wednesday, they will become the first English team in history to win seven Champions League group stage games on the bounce. body check tags ::
