Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has refused to rule Alexis Mac Allister out of contention for Monday's Premier League showdown with Newcastle United at Anfield.
The Argentine midfielder has been in the treatment room since suffering a painful cut to the knee against Sheffield United on December 6, but he is now in the final phase of his rehabilitation.
However, the Reds are guaranteed to be without six stricken men on New Year's Day, as Kostas Tsimikas (collarbone), Ben Doak (knee), Joel Matip (knee), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Thiago Alcantara (hip) and Andrew Robertson (shoulder) are continuing their recoveries.
With neither Tsimikas nor Robertson available, Joe Gomez ought to be deployed as an emergency left-back once again, with Trent Alexander-Arnold undertaking vice-captain duties on the opposite side.
Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk are defensive shoo-ins too, but despite helping the Reds keep a clean sheet against Burnley on Boxing Day, Jarell Quansah is at risk of losing his place to Ibrahima Konate.
Unless Mac Allister somehow forces his way into the XI, Wataru Endo should be given the chance to continue his fine form as Liverpool's number six, potentially with the recalled Dominik Szoboszlai alongside him and Ryan Gravenberch.
Diogo Jota returned from injury with a bang against Burnley, netting his side's second off the bench, but he may be restricted to another cameo role as Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez - scorer of two late goals at St James' Park in August - form an unchanged attack.
Liverpool possible starting lineup: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Szoboszlai, Endo, Gravenberch; Salah, Gakpo, Nunez
Ben Knapton
