Liverpool could do without any further issues in their back line until the New Year as they wait on Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni to return.

The Reds have not been especially good defensively this term, particularly in the Champions League, where they continue to ship goals at a fairly alarming rate.

Ronald Araujo worry for Liverpool

Araujo missed a Liverpool game for the first time on Wednesday, when he remained on the bench throughout the 3-2 defeat against Fenerbahce.

The Barcelona loanee was probably due a rest, but his absence may also have been a decision to protect him from injury, with journalist Lewis Steele spotting Araujo grimacing in pain and with strapping on his hamstring during the early stages of the clash with Crystal Palace.

Araujo was booked for the slightly late tackle which appeared to have given him a problem, but continued on to complete the first half for Liverpool.

Jeremie Frimpong is being given extra time to recover from his own hamstring problem, meaning that without Bradley as well, Liverpool would have to turn to Dominik Szoboszlai to cover if Araujo’s issue begins to bother him.