Liverpool are set to be without Philippe Coutinho for at least five weeks after scans confirmed that the Brazilian has suffered ankle ligament damage, Jurgen Klopp said on Tuesday.
Coutinho was stretchered off midway through Saturday's 2-0 win over Sunderland after a clash with Didier Ndong and went for a scan on his right ankle on Monday.
Klopp told BBC Radio 5 Live in the build-up to Tuesday night's EFL Cup quarterfinal with Leeds United: "Phil needs between five and a few weeks until we have him back. We will see.
"He is not in [to face Leeds] and for the next few games."
The injury is expected to keep the forward on the sidelines until January, which means he will miss Liverpool's hectic festive period and the opening fixtures of the New Year.
The 24-year-old has been in fine form for Liverpool this season, with his five Premier League goals in 13 appearances helping Liverpool establish themselves in the race for the title, but Klopp said on Monday they could cope without him.
"It is no excuse for anything. As good as he is he does not decide games by himself, although it sometimes looks like this," he said. "It is a team performance we create and he is a very important part of this team, absolutely.
"Of course we can handle it. If he is not in you have to show -- and we will show."