Liverpool striker Christian Benteke has been ruled out of tonight's League Cup game against Bournemouth with a knee injury and is now a doubt for Saturday's Premier League encounter at Chelsea.
The news comes as a blow to manager Jurgen Klopp, who is already without the services of Daniel Sturridge and Danny Ings. The German's only other attacking option is 20-year-old Divock Origi.
Benteke returned to competitive action against Rubin Kazan in the Europa League last week, having spent a month out with a hamstring injury.
The Belgian came on as a second half substitute and scored a stunning header in Sunday's 1-1 draw against Southampton, but Klopp's hopes of handing him a start at Anfield have been dashed by the injury, although Benteke is not expected to be facing another extended spell on the sidelines.
Sturridge, who injured his knee in training and last played in the 1-1 draw with Everton on 4 October, is not in contention and James Milner is suspended, although Roberto Firmino could start his first game under Klopp after impressing as a substitute against Southampton on Sunday.
On Sturridge, Klopp said: "He can walk, he can swim, but that's not enough for playing football. There's not too much fluid so that's why we can say it's not serious.
"We don't have to think about surgeries or things like this but he needs time.
"I know about his history with injuries of course. I have no experience with things with him, that's another thing I have to learn and to see but, if he can train, he can play.
"And until then we don't have to talk about it."
Danny Ings is out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury.
