Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have both been left out of Liverpool's Champions League squad by Jurgen Klopp.
Both midfielders have been absent for the Reds at the start of the 2022-23 Premier League season, but the omission of Keita could hint at a more serious injury prognosis than first feared.
The Guinean international was reported to have suffered a muscular injury during pre-season that required specialist attention, but his omission from the squad implies he will not be featuring heavily for Klopp's side.
There had been no indication from Liverpool that Keita was set for an extended spell on the sidelines, but this latest development does not look promising for Reds fans.
Both players have had their progress at Anfield consistently hampered by injury. Keita arrived in 2018 from Leipzig, but has only played 117 games since then, missing 68 games through 17 different injury lay-offs.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has also spent long spells out of the side, featuring only 133 games in five seasons.
In place of the two senior midfielders, the German manager has named new recruit Arthur Melo and defender Stefan Bajcetic.
Liverpool's midfield woes are well-documented, with many left surprised that the Reds waited until the final day of the transfer window as Thiago joined the injury list in the first game of the season.
However the Champions League finalists did finally venture into the market, and the Brazil international was formally announced as Liverpool's fourth signing of the window late on Thursday, joining on a season-long loan.
It seems that his first involvement will come against Napoli in the Champions League next Wednesday, by which point Thiago is expected to be back in full training. Klopp is adamant that Arthur will be an important squad member.
But with Jordan Henderson leaving the field with hamstring injury against Everton, the holes in Klopp's midfield are quickly being re-exposed, despite bringing in Arthur.
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