Liverpool could face a selection crisis for their Champions League trip to LASK on Wednesday evening, with head coach Andoni Iraola potentially having only 15 senior outfield players available.
The Reds are already without Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike due to long-term injury, although the Italian is edging closer to a return to team training following over a year on the sidelines with an ACL injury.
They were also without Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai for Sunday's defeat to Manchester City after the trio suffered injuries during the expanded September/October international break.
Iraola concedes injury doubts
While Iraola played down the severity of their issues, he conceded after the loss to the Premier League leaders that it would be a surprise if any of the trio recovered in time for the trip to Austria.
But Liverpool's options are set to be depleted even further for their second Champions League league phase game, with both Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo ineligible for the match.
Neither player was selected in the Reds' 25-man squad for the first half of this season's tournament, with Iraola instead opting to select the injured Ekitike.
Ekitike gamble explained
When explaining the Frenchman's inclusion, the Basque shared his hope that the forward would be fit in time for Liverpool's final two league phase games in January.
"We had a meeting with the medical department to analyse when we completed the [squad] list for the European games," he explained last month. "There is a reasonable chance that he could help us in the last two games of the group stages."
"But it's still very early to say. It's very early because it's a long-term injury [and] a big part of the rehab [he] is still to meet. But if we decide to put him there, it is because there is a hope and there is a realistic chance that he could help us in January."
Looking further afield when naming Ekitike was a gamble. And it is one that might not pay off, with such a decision now potentially contributing to leaving the Reds looking short - especially in attack - when they travel to Austria.
UEFA loophole could help
If none of Isak, Gakpo and Szoboszlai are fit enough to return, Iraola would be left with just 15 senior outfield players who have featured in the Premier League so far this season.
Such a total could be bolstered by the likes of youngsters Luke Chambers, Isaac Mabaya, Wellity Lucky, James McConnell and Jayden Danns, but it is far from ideal for Liverpool.
The Reds could take advantage of a UEFA loophole to bolster their ranks, but it would not necessarily be good news for Iraola.
UEFA made an amendment to their registration rules on the eve of last year's tournament, which enables clubs to make one change to their squad during the league phase in response to long-term injury or illness.
If an outfield player is set to be ruled out for at least 60 days, a club can now replace them in their squad - with the rule applicable until matchday six.
Liverpool took advantage of this rule last season following Leoni's ACL injury, as former head coach Arne Slot called up Chiesa in his place.
It would potentially be possible to make the most of such a rule again at the expense of Ekitike, given his long-term injury status. But Iraola would therefore have to sacrifice the ace up his sleeve in order to cover the short-term shortage in his ranks.
Otherwise, the Reds would only be able to name a replacement in their squad if any of Isak, Gakpo or Szoboszlai were to be ruled out for two months or longer.
It would obviously be preferable for Liverpool if that were not the case, with Iraola's previous comments suggesting that the trio have at least avoided more serious injury.
But as a result, the Reds would have to make do with what depleted numbers they have currently got for the trip to Austria, with the omission of both Chiesa and Endo coming back to bite.
