Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany will not feature in Sunday's Premier League clash with Liverpool.
The Belgian defender, 26, who sustained a calf injury during last weekend's FA Cup victory at Stoke, has not been included in the Citizens' provisional squad for the game at the Etihad Stadium.
However, Matija Nastasic has overcome a knee problem and should start alongside Joleon Lescott.
Maicon and Micah Richards, who have also been struggling with knee injuries, hope to return to first-team action later this month.
Yaya Toure and Kolo Toure are still on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast.
Provisional squad: Hart, Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Nastasic, Lescott, Rekik, Clichy, Kolarov, Garcia, Rodwell, Barry, Milner, Nasri, Sinclair, Silva, Tevez, Dzeko, Aguero, Lopes
