Jurgen Klopp says that Thiago Alcantara’s return ‘will take a few weeks still’.
Thiago has been unavailable for selection since picking up a knock in a challenge by Richarlison during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Everton last month.
Progress on the Spain international’s return to action following the knee injury remains prolonged despite not suffering any setbacks in his rehabilitation.
But Klopp admits that Thiago, a £25 million summer arrival from Bayern Munich, is unlikely be in first-team action before the beginning of next year.
He said: “Thiago, we have to maybe clarify a little bit.
“On that day when he got injured in the Everton game, there was another bad injury [to Virgil van Dijk].
“After the scans. one was really bad news and one was really good because nothing was broke, nothing ruptured [with Thiago].
“But as we realise now, it was still a massive impact on the knee.
“The problem is in a situation like that, nothing is ruptured and nothing is broken and that means everybody thinks ‘ÓK, you can go after a few days’.
“But the impact on the leg was that big that it is still not OK.
“It is not massive and he trains from time to time, not in the moment because we just have to realise that we have to go a few further steps.
“I can’t say exactly when he will be fine, but it will take a few weeks still.”
The Liverpool manager offered a more positive update on Monday around Trent Alexander-Arnold’s a calf injury picked up against Manchester City.
Alexander-Arnold will not feature in his side’s Champions League encounter with Ajax but is making steady progress ahead of a busy Christmas schedule.
“Trent looks quite good, but nobody gave me the green light for tonight so he will not be in [training],” admitted Klopp.
“I saw him today on the pitch doing his rehab stuff outside, so that looks already good, but I cannot decide when this rehab stuff is finished.
“I take the players only in the moment when I get the green light and that didn’t happen yet.
“But from my rather experienced eye from what I saw today, it will not be that long anymore with Trent [unavailable].”
Liverpool will be without James Milner for the visit of the Dutch champions after his hamstring issue at Brighton while Xherdan Shaqiri is also sidelined.
A late decision will be taken on Naby Keita’s fitness for the Group D clash, which could see the Premier League champions reach the knock-out stage.