Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara is set for another spell in the treatment room after sustaining a hamstring injury in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Fulham in the Premier League.
The 31-year-old was seen clutching the back of his thigh before coming off in the 51st minute of the contest, and scans have not been reassuring for Jurgen Klopp.
Thiago is now supposedly set to miss at least four and potentially up to six weeks as he recovers from his latest injury setback, which has only added to Klopp's midfield crisis.
The former Bayern Munich man has already sat out 44 games through injury or illness since arriving at Anfield two years ago, and he was also restricted to just 17 Premier League starts last season.
Here, Sports Mole looks at the Liverpool games that Thiago is set to miss through injury as Klopp ponders his limited options in the engine room.
Liverpool had to come from behind twice to rescue a draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage on the opening matchday of the Premier League season, and their next battle sees Crystal Palace come to Anfield on August 15.
Thiago will begin his spell on the sidelines against the Eagles, and crucially, he will also sit out the trip to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United seven days later, although the Reds won 5-0 at the Theatre of Dreams without him last term.
Bournemouth and Newcastle United will then travel to Anfield to face a Thiago-less Liverpool before the end of the month, and the first Merseyside derby of the season against Everton takes place at Goodison Park on September 3.
Barring a miraculous recovery period, Thiago will not be at Klopp's disposal for the clash with their bitter rivals, and attention will then turn to Liverpool's Champions League endeavours.
With qualifying now nearing its final stages, the group-stage draw will take place on August 25 before the first matchday on either September 6 or 7 for Liverpool, who will be in pot two for this year's draw.
Wolverhampton Wanderers then take on the Reds in the Premier League on September 10 before Liverpool play their second Champions League group-stage match a few days later, which could be against one of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain.
Thiago may have recovered by that point, but if he is to miss the full six weeks, then the trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on September 18 could also come too soon for him.
A comeback can be provisionally pencilled in for October 1, when Liverpool welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Anfield, but the same old questions will be coming Klopp's way in his upcoming press conferences.
With Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also sidelined while Naby Keita battles his way back from illness, speculation surrounding the acquisition of a new midfielder will not cease, but Klopp is sure to avoid signing a short-term solution if he can help it. body check tags ::
