Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has explained why both Joel Matip and Joe Gomez missed their match against Chelsea while also suggesting young Billy Koumetio could have been in contention. Virgil van Dijk has been an ever-present in Liverpool's starting line-up ever since joining the Reds in 2018.
But the same can't be said for his two usual centre-back partners in Matip and Gomez.
The Liverpool duo have long struggled with small injury issues over the past few years, with Klopp needing to swap around his centre-back partnerships.
Dejan Lovren was often called upon as the fourth option last year.
But the Croatia international was allowed to leave earlier this summer in search of regular first-team football.
Joe Gomez and Joel Matip were injured for the Chelsea game (Image: GETTY)
Liverpool may have brought in Kostas Tsimikas along with Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota as their summer recruits, but a replacement for Lovren is yet to come in.
And their failure to sign another centre-back has already been punished just two games into the new season.
Both Matip and Gomez were not named in the matchday squad to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
It meant Fabinho was pushed back into central defence to partner Van Dijk.
Klopp hinted before the game that Koumetio may have been in contention if he was fit.
But the Liverpool boss isn't too concerned with the injuries to both Gomez and Matip.
"Not a lot has happened, but enough," he told Sky Sports.
"Joe is not a real concern - it's probably only today.
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Liverpool are aiming to defend their Premier League title (Image: DX)