Liverpool defender Glen Johnson is facing a month out after tearing a groin muscle during Sunday's 3-0 Premier League defeat at Manchester United.
Johnson limped off midway through the first half at Old Trafford, and could miss the Reds' entire Christmas and New Year schedule, sources have told ESPN FC.
Javier Manquillo is expected to replace the England international right-back for Wednesday's Capital One Cup quarterfinal at Championship leaders Bournemouth.
Manquillo, signed on a two-year loan from Spanish champions Atletico Madrid in August, has not even made the bench for Liverpool's last three matches, having been taken off for tactical reasons at half-time during the 3-1 league win at Leicester on Dec. 2.
Johnson is out of contract at the end of the season, and revealed in late November that he has still not been offered a new deal.
As things stand, he would be able to sign a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club in January.
Meanwhile, Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli will not feature against Bournemouth as he has not travelled with the squad.
The Italy international was a second-half substitute in Sunday's defeat at Manchester United, where he made his comeback after more than a month on the sidelines with a groin problem.
Balotelli has stayed behind to receive further treatment on the injury at the club's Melwood training ground with a view to him being fit for Sunday's visit of Arsenal.
Information from the Press Association was used in this report.