Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has been ruled out for “a few weeks” with a knee injury.
“Trent hyperextended his knee during the last game so he has a little tear in the lateral ligament of his knee and he will need time to recover,” said Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders.
“He had a scan and he will be out for a few weeks, so let’s see after that.”
Lijnders added: “It is a big blow as he was one of our most important players. Even in bad spells he was the one putting the balls where we needed the difference.
“We will have to find new dynamics without him because he made our game flexible but hopefully it is three weeks.
“He will get some rest and then hopefully he can come back to where he was. Because this guy was decisive in all the games and was the one who created constantly for us from deep and gave the team a high level of flexibility.
“We will really miss him.”
It means Alexander-Arnold will definitely miss Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Fulham at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp’s side then face Bournemouth in the Premier League on 21 January with the second leg against the Cottagers taking place three days later.
They then face Norwich or Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup fourth round on the weekend of the 27 January before rounding off the month hosting Chelsea in the Premier League on 31 January.
Alexander-Arnold, who was appointed club vice-captain last summer, has made 25 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool this season, scoring two goals.
Although primarily a right-back, the academy graduate has successfully pushed forward into midfield at times this season.
Liverpool are already without forward Mohamed Salah as he is on international duty with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, while midfielder Wataru Endo is with Japan at the Asia Cup.
Lijnders said left-backs Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas should return to training at the end of the month as they continue their recovery from shoulder injuries.
Midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai is also still out with a hamstring problem but captain Virgil van Dijk is fit to face Fulham on Wednesday after recovering from illness.
The Merseyside club are three points clear at the top of the Premier League and have progressed through to the knockout stages of the Europa League.
