Liverpool will be without Fabinho for their extensive December fixture programme after the Reds confirmed the Brazilan midfielder has suffered ankle ligament damage.
The former Monaco man limped off in the first half of Wednesday's 1-1 Champions League draw with Napoli, when he was replaced by Gini Wijnaldum.
There were initial fears over the 26-year-old's injury, and the Reds confirmed on Friday that he will miss the rest of 2019.
"Liverpool can confirm Fabinho suffered ankle ligament damage during the Champions League encounter with Napoli in midweek," read a club statement .
"The midfielder needed to be substituted after 18 minutes of the 1-1 draw at Anfield on Wednesday night after falling awkwardly during a challenge.
"Further assessment on the injury has discovered Fabinho will be out of action until the New Year.
"The Brazilian will begin a rehabilitation programme with the Reds’ medical team at Melwood as he works his way back to full fitness."
The absence of Fabinho, who has been in fine form this season, comes as a huge blow to Jurgen Klopp ahead of a hectic period of matches for the Reds.
They face Premier League games against Brighton and Hove Albion, Everton and Bournemouth in the next week, before their Champions League group stage match at Red Bull Salzburg in which they are likely to have to avoid defeat to secure qualification.
Then after a home game with Watford comes two fixtures in two days in which Klopp will split his squad.
A younger team will face Aston Villa in the quarter-finals of Carabao Cup where they will be overseen by under-23s boss Neil Critchley, while the first team head to Qatar to compete in the Club World Cup.
After that the Reds return to three games in a week against Leicester , Wolves and Sheffield United.
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