Liverpool have been dealt a major blow ahead of their Champions League clash with Inter Milan on Tuesday night.
The Reds travel to the San Siro on the back of conceding a stoppage-time equaliser in a 3-3 draw at Leeds United on Saturday, having been 2-0 ahead early in the second half.
That result, which followed a 1-1 draw with Sunderland in midweek, leaves the defending Premier League champions sitting 10th in the table after another frustrating performance.
Liverpool have struggled throughout the campaign.
Their difficulties deepened when Mohamed Salah claimed he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club in a bombshell interview after the draw in Yorkshire.
With the crucial festive period approaching, Arne Slot will be desperate for a strong reaction from his players.
Conor Bradley returned to the starting XI at right-back, giving Slot a natural option in the position for the first time in weeks, and the Northern Irishman’s comeback was a welcome boost.
However, Liverpool suffered further setback when Federico Chiesa missed training on Monday before the squad flew out for their latest Champions League league-phase fixture.
The Italian was not named in the 19-man travelling squad, and Slot later confirmed in his pre-match press conference that the 28-year-old was absent due to illness.
The Liverpool boss did say there was a slim chance Chiesa could still feature against Inter, but that hope has now faded.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Monday evening, Slot explained: “Federico is ill, so that is poor timing you could say. But it’s not something you can do anything about.
“So, we are monitoring his situation.
“If he has an amazing recovery – which I, we, doctors don’t expect – he might travel tomorrow.
“But let’s have a fair expectation, that’s not what I expect.
According to the Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle, Chiesa has not travelled to Milan, leaving the Reds severely depleted in attacking areas.
Inter Milan boss confirms 3 players could miss Liverpool clash
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