Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Arthur Melo’s injury is ‘really serious’, admitting the midfielder will be out ‘long-term’.
Liverpool’s summer signing, who joined on loan from Juventus this summer, injured his left thigh during training in October.
When asked for an update ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Leeds at Anfield, Klopp said: ‘It’s a really serious injury.
‘He’s here. It’s a long-term injury and when he’s back, we’ll think about it again.
‘I have no idea how long it will be but it will be long.
‘But at the moment, it’s too far away. No [we won’t cut the loan in January].’
The Reds paid the Italian giants £4million to secure the season-long loan in August, and the Brazilian has since played just 13 minutes in all competitions.
Melo’s long-term injury piles even more misery on to a disappointing start to the season for Liverpool, who have shown uncharacteristically poor form and sit eighth in the league.
Klopp’s side will look to bounce back from their humiliating 1-0 defeat by Premier League newcomers Nottingham Forest last weekend as they host Leeds at Anfield on Saturday evening.
The injured midfielder, who is set to miss the World Cup, posted to Instagram two weeks ago: ‘It is now time for me to keep my head up and join forces with my family and do everything I need to with my team to make sure I come back stronger as soon as possible.
‘No obstacle will prevent me from progressing in my career and I have great ambition to show what I can do on the pitch.
‘In the meantime, I will continue to support my Liverpool team-mates and my beloved Brazil national team.’