Liverpool are reportedly set to be without the services of Florian Wirtz for their Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night.
The Reds are looking to make amends versus the Eredivisie outfit this week after returning from the international break to receive a three-goal battering on Merseyside at the hands of Nottingham Forest over the weekend.
As a result of another insipid performance, Arne Slot's men have slumped further down the Premier League standings, with the current holders now sitting in a lowly 12th.
Following Everton's win over Manchester United on Monday night, the Toffees are above their local rivals in the table at the 12-game mark for the first time since 2015.
It appeared as if David Moyes's men were on course for defeat at Old Trafford following the 13th-minute dismissal of Idrissa Gana Gueye, however a valiant performance saw the 10-man visitors snatch maximum points.
Liverpool to be without Wirtz for PSV clash?
According to the Liverpool Echo, big-money summer signing Wirtz is not set to feature in Wednesday's Champions League match.
The report states that the German attacker missed first-team training at Melwood on Tuesday ahead of the PSV encounter.
Wirtz picked up a muscular issue whilst on international duty with Julian Naglesmann's side, after performing excellently in the smashing of Slovakia in Leipzig.
As a result, the playmaker missed the sobering defeat to Nottingham Forest on the weekend, with the youngster yet to find the net in the Premier League.
As well as Wirtz, full-back duo Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring) and Conor Bradley (muscle) were also absent from training on Tuesday.
Waning options amid PL crisis
Lying 11 points behind league leaders Arsenal after 12 matches, it is safe to assume that Liverpool's defence of the Premier League crown is finished.
The Reds have enjoyed relative respite in the Champions League, winning three of their four League Phase contests to date.
One of those successes arrived against the odds versus Real Madrid at Anfield in early November, when Alexis MacAllister netted the only goal of the game..