Liverpool may have to make do without the services of Philippe Coutinho for a prolonged period after the playmaker limped out of his side's ongoing League Cup tie away at Stoke City.

The Brazilian picked up the complaint in the 18th minute at the Britannia Stadium as he crossed the ball into the Stoke penalty area from the left flank.

He immediately dropped to the floor and soon informed the Liverpool bench that he was no longer able to continue.

The 23-year-old suffered a similar problem earlier in the campaign, which sidelined him for four games.

According to the respected Twitter account This is Anfield, Coutinho's is the 11th hamstring injury that a Liverpool player has suffered in the last three months.

Follow Sports Mole's live text updates of Liverpool's clash at Stoke here.