Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed on Friday that striker Daniel Sturridge will be away from the team for the next 10 days as his injury woes continue.
The England international has been limited to just five appearances this season due to a string of injury problems.
The status of Sturridge's fitness has not been publicly disclosed over the last few weeks, but he has not appeared in the squad since the Reds' 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United on December 6.
"He's not with the team at the moment, that's right," Klopp told Liverpool's official website. "We have enough games this season when we hopefully can use him but not, if nothing happens, for at least the next 10 days.
"You can't be nearly fit, then playing, then injured again, then nearly fit, then playing, then injured again, then during training something like injured again, and then you say after five days 'come on' to pick the day you get him and then he gets the next injury.
"We have to be patient. That's not my best skill, to be honest, but in this case I have no other choice."
Sturridge has been linked with a surprise £18m move to West Ham United, but manager Slaven Bilic played down the speculation on Thursday.
Danielle Joynson
