Roberto Firmino is facing around six weeks out after suffering a serious hamstring injury in the win over Atletico Madrid in midweek.
The Brazil international could miss ten matches or more for Jürgen Klopp’s side after sustaining the setback when he replaced Sadio Mané at half-time of Wednesday’s 2-0 Champions League success. He was forced off 33 minutes later and was replaced by Divock Origi.
The absence of Firmino will increase the onus on Divock Origi, who has been recalled to the Belgium squad, to ease the workload on Mané, Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota.
“Bobby is not good news with a serious hamstring injury, really unfortunate,” said Klopp.
“We don’t know exactly how long he will be out but it will not be [until] after the international break. We have to work on that.
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“It is a blow. We have known for two days that it is a serious injury. We talk about weeks. I don’t know exactly but more than four which I would consider a serious injury. Bobby is a quick healer.
“Usually if a player is injured before the international, you think, ‘OK after the international break, they will be ready again.’ But that will not directly be the moment when Bobby is ready again. So it is not good.”
Firmino was sidelined for a month with another hamstring injury earlier in the campaign and that will ensure Liverpool will be careful with rehabilitation.
Liverpool travel to West Ham United on Sunday and face games against Arsenal and Everton in the coming weeks.
The fact that they have qualified for the Champions League knockout stages with two matches to spare means Klopp has the option of rotating his squad.
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In addition to Firmino, Curtis Jones, Joe Gomez, James Milner and Naby Keita will also be missing against West Ham.
