Liverpool's Danish defender Daniel Agger has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a metatarsal injury that will require a third operation on Monday.
The loss of the centre-back comes as a major blow to boss Rafael Benitez as he prepares Liverpool for tomorrow's home league game with Reading.
The match will be followed by a hugely-demanding schedule that sees the Anfield club playing Manchester United, Everton and Arsenal - the latter on three occasions in a week including both legs of a Champions League quarter-final.
Benitez will recall Xabi Alonso to the squad to face the Royals, the Spanish midfielder having missed Tuesday's win over Inter Milan to be at the bedside of his girlfriend for the birth of their son.
Reading will be without defender Graeme Murty (knee) and midfielders Brynjar Gunnarsson (groin) and Emerse Fae (malaria).
Winger Glen Little remains on the sidelines but has been pencilled in for a reserve game next week.
Little has not played for a year because of an Achilles problem. He has recovered from that but has since damaged a hamstring during his recovery programme.
Teams:
Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Skrtel, Riise, Aurelio, Benayoun, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Lucas, Babel, Kuyt, Torres, Crouch, Voronin, Itandje.
Reading (from): Hahnemann, Federici, Rosenior, Ingimarsson, Bikey, Sonko, Cisse, Shorey, Oster, Matejovsky, Harper, Hunt, Convey, Doyle, Long, Kitson, Kebe, de la Cruz.