Liverpool have chosen to err on the side of caution by omitting Joel Matip for their FA Cup third round replay with Plymouth Argyle.
Jurgen Klopp admitted that he was unsure whether he could include the defender for the Home Park tie due to the Reds’ dispute with his native Cameroon.
FIFA are set to rule this Friday on whether Matip can play for the Anfield club after his country’s football federation threatened to impose legal action.
World football’s governing body may have imposed either a hefty fine or explusion from the FA Cup if Liverpool fielded the 25-year-old against Plymouth.
But Klopp has avoided potential repercussions by leaving the former Schalke centre-back on Merseyside for this evening’s encounter with the League Two side.
Matip last represented Cameroon in 2015 and had not been considered for international selection until coach Hugo Broos’ attempted recall last month.
However Matip’s inclusion in his country’s 23-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations has seen him sidelined for several Liverpool games this month.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have confirmed the departure of Tiago Ilori to Reading.
The 23-year-old moves to the Championship outfit for just over half his original £7 million fee when arriving from Sporting Lisbon in summer 2013.