Liverpool centre-back Joe Gomez suffered an ankle injury during the Reds' 3-1 win over Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday night.
Jurgen Klopp fielded a much-changed side from Sunday's win over Everton, with Gomez, Alisson, Virgil van Dijk and Xherdan Shaqiri the only ones to keep their place from the start.
Gomez shifted across to right-back with Joel Matip partnering van Dijk in the centre of defence and the youngster impressed in the early stages.
However, he was on the receiving end of a challenge from Burnley defender Ben Mee as he chased down a ball towards the touch-line, resulting in him crashing in to the advertisement hoardings.
The England international stayed down in visible discomfort and was eventually replaced by Trent Alexander-Arnold after being stretchered off the side of the pitch.
Speaking to reporters, Klopp suggested that Gomez's injury could be far from innocuous and revealed he had previously asked referee Stuart Attwell to protect his players from dangerous tackles.
Klopp confirms that Gomez has an ankle injury and is facing a spell out #LFC
“Joe is injured and probably not only a little bit. We have to see tomorrow. It's [his] ankle, yes,” he said.
“After the first challenge, a sliding tackle from seven or eight yards, I said to the ref: ‘Please tell them you can't do that'. Someone has to say ‘stop doing that'.”
Gomez will undergo a scan on Thursday to show the true extent of the injury, however the initial update from the boss is worrying to say the least.
The 21-year-old has looked accomplished partnering van Dijk in defence this season, with his impressive form one of the major positives so far.
Image: Getty Images and Liverpool FC
The worry will be if Gomez has suffered a high ankle sprain, an injury that may mean corrective surgery that keeps athletes out of action for up to a year. However, the hope will be that it is just a minor sprain.
Liverpool travel to Bournemouth on Saturday before a season-defining Champions League fixture against Napoli, for which the former Charlton man is currently unlikely to recover for.
The Reds then face Manchester United on the weekend, with Wolves, Newcastle, Arsenal and Manchester City all to come before 3rd January.
Gomez would be a big miss for Klopp in central defence during this busy festive period, with Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren the other possibilities.
