Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is sweating over the availability of Ibrahima Konate for Sunday's Premier League showdown with Newcastle United at St James' Park.
The Reds boss revealed in his pre-match press conference that the centre-back was a slight doubt due to an unspecified issue, possibly opening the door for either Joel Matip or Joe Gomez to enter the fray.
Midfield duo Curtis Jones (ankle) and Thiago Alcantara (hip) will also miss out, but Trent Alexander-Arnold is good to go following a slight fitness scare in last weekend's victory over Bournemouth.
Should Konate pass a late fitness test, the Frenchman and Alexander-Arnold could return to form an unaltered backline with Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson and Alisson Becker, although new signing Wataru Endo has been deployed as a centre-half on occasion during his career.
However, the Japan international - who came off the bench against Bournemouth for his debut - will likely make his first Premier League start at the base of the midfield, although Stefan Bajcetic is another option after recovering from his serious adductor injury.
Following a successful appeal against Alexis Mac Allister's contentious red card last weekend, the Argentine is free to join the lively Dominik Szoboszlai in midfield, where Endo's arrival could force Cody Gakpo to accept a substitute role.
Al-Ittihad are supposedly not giving up on a lucrative deal for Mohamed Salah, but Klopp has insisted that the Egyptian remains fully committed to Liverpool, and he could form an unchanged front three with his fellow goalscorers from last weekend in Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota, as Darwin Nunez aims to provide impetus off the bench once more.
Liverpool possible starting lineup: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Endo, Szoboszlai; Salah, Jota, Diaz
Ben Knapton
