Arne Slot will be without a number of key first-team players when Liverpool travel for their first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday. The Reds will be determined to bounce back from a bitter exit from the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain earlier this week.
The Premier League title-holders and the Ligue 1 sensations met in the quarter-finals of the competition over two legs, suffering a 2-0 loss at the Parc des Princes thanks to goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
While a roaring Kop was quick to put their support behind their team when the two played out at Anfield on Tuesday, Liverpool were unfortunately unable to turn the tide.
A brace from Ousmane Dembele handed the Reds a 2-0 loss on the night as they left Europe's premier footballing competition 4-0 on aggregate, their focus now fully fixed on the English top flight.
While Slot will have hoped to have all of his first-team players available for selection this weekend as he looks to secure Champions League qualification for 2026/27, a number of his most influential talents will miss the Everton match.
Here, the ECHO breaks down all of the Liverpool players who are currently sidelined, as well as their potential return dates...
Hugo Ekitike suffered an Achilles tendon rupture during Tuesday's reverse with PSG, dropping the the turf unchallenged before immediately clutching at his ankle. As a result, not only will the Frenchman miss the rest of the season, but will also miss this summer's World Cup in North America.
Speaking about Ekitike's issue during his press conference on Friday, Slot explained: "He hasn't been operated on yet. Devastating for him coming to a new club having so much impact straight away.
"Playing against your former club in the Champions League quarter-final with so much to come for him in the summer. First thoughts are with him being out for such along time, missing out on so many special moments.
"Not the first and not the last player who experienced something like this at start of career and so many examples of players coming back even stronger - 100% he will be one of those say, 'Maybe this injury makes me even more stronger and more ready to play at even higher level."
Potential return date - 2027
Alexander Isak made his first start for Liverpool on Tuesday since fracturing his leg against Tottenham Hotspur back in December. However, he managed just 45 minutes on the pitch before he was substituted off at half-time for Mohamed Salah.
Given Ekitike's recent injury, Isak could be a major part of Slot's plans for the latter stages of the season, although the Dutchman has explained that he is not quite ready for 90 minutes of football just yet.
He said: "It's a good thing we signed two number nines. Lot of people were debating why we signed two, now it looks like a good (idea), now people are saying we should sign another in the summer.
"Someone said to me the day after that you cannot write the script that on the day; Alex is back on first start the other leaves pitch with a long-term injury.
"Even more a good thing that Alex is back but wouldn't be the first time I didn't have someone available in a certain position, such as right-back. Alex we know is not ready to play 90 yet."
Potential return date - Sunday, April 19 vs Everton (With reduced minutes)
Joe Gomez will also be unavailable for selection this weekend as he recovers from his own respective injury.
The Englishman made an appearance from the bench against PSG moments after half-time in place of Jeremie Frimpong, but lasted just 20 minutes as he was took off for Rio Ngumoha.
Potential return date - Unknown
Alisson has also been absent from Liverpool's first-team since their Champions League clash with Galatasaray ahead of the March international break.
Giorgi Mamardashvili is expected to once again be deployed instead of the Brazilian this weekend, as he continues his own recovery from injury.
Jayden Danns will also miss the match as he continues to recover after a lengthy lay-off. Slot said of the player: "He has been out for such a long time and now he's getting back with the under-21s getting some playing time.
"But he's not even played 90 mins for U21s let alone play a Premier League game. He has worked so hard and I've seen him around, he has been so unlucky to be out such a long time. Really like him to be back."
Conor Bradley is expected to miss the rest of the season as a result of a knee injury sustained against Arsenal in January. He will therefore not play against Everton this weekend.
Potential return date - Next season
Wataru Endo suffers a similar fate to Bradley, sidelined for the rest of the season as a result of an ankle injury against Sunderland in February, where he was stretchered off the pitch. He should be fit to play for Japan at this summer's World Cup, however.
Potential return date - This summer
Giovanni Leoni has been absent from Liverpool's first-team squad since rupturing his ACL on his debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup back in September. He is not expected to play for the Reds again this season.
