Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius has been ruled out for the opening weeks of the new season due to injury.
The summer signing was expected to challenge Simon Mignolet for the number one spot at Anfield, but he could now miss the first four games of the Premier League campaign.
Karius broke a bone in his hand during a collision with teammate Dejan Lovren in Liverpool's pre-season defeat to Chelsea, which is expected to keep him sidelined for eight to 10 weeks.
The 23-year-old played on after the incident, but complained of discomfort after the game and went for scans on Thursday, which revealed the extent of the damage.
The former Mainz shot-stopper will travel back to the UK from California on Friday and could need an operation to repair the damage.
Mignolet is now expected to start in Liverpool's season opener away to Arsenal on August 14, with another new signing Alex Manninger as back-up against his former club.
