Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has claimed that he will have just 17 players available for the Premier League's festive fixtures.
Jose Enrique, Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge are all ruled out with injuries, while young defender Jon Flanagan could also be forced to spend some time on the sidelines with a hamstring complaint.
With those absentees in mind, Rodgers has conceded that his squad is currently "thin on the ground".
"Our squad is very thin at the moment. Seventeen players [are injured], which is unfortunate for us coming into a busy period. We just have to assess young Jon Flanagan," Rodgers told reporters. "Leading into the game against Cardiff he had a tight hamstring for a few days. He was fit enough to start and play; he felt it a little bit in the game so obviously we had to take him off.
"We just need to assess how that is over the next 24 hours. At the moment, none of the guys who have been out have returned, so we're quite thin on the ground."
Liverpool face Manchester City on Boxing Day, before taking on Chelsea two days later.
Liam Apicella
