Liverpool are reportedly counting on Fabinho recovering from a hamstring injury in time for the Champions League final with Real Madrid on May 28.
The 28-year-old sparked concern when he went down during Tuesday's 2-1 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park and had to be replaced by Jordan Henderson in the first half.
Speaking after the game, Jurgen Klopp was unsure of the severity of Fabinho's problem but admitted that the issue was a "big blow" for the quadruple-chasing Merseysiders.
"I don't know, he felt a muscle, not too much. It was not the thigh, but the other side (hamstring). He is quite positive but I'm not sure what I can take of that, to be honest. We will see," Klopp told reporters.
"It is a big blow for us. I can't say when he'll be ready. Nobody has an answer for that. He has a good feeling and that gives me a better feeling than I had when I took him off."
Now, The Athletic reports that Fabinho has indeed suffered a hamstring strain after having scans on the injury, but the problem has only been described as a "minor" one.
As a result, the ex-Monaco man will sit out Saturday's FA Cup final with Chelsea and most likely the Reds' two final Premier League games with Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
However, the report adds that Liverpool are holding out hope that the Brazil international will be fit to take on Real Madrid in two weeks' time, with the next 10 days of recovery set to determine whether he will be available for the trip to Paris.
Brazil are scheduled to face South Korea and Japan in international friendlies next month, and Selecao manager Tite has called the Liverpool lynchpin up to the squad for the fixtures despite his injury.
Brazil's physical trainer Fabio Mahseredjian also expressed his hope that Fabinho would make the European final, saying: "We don't have all the information yet but we are optimistic that he will reach the Champions League final," as quoted by The Athletic.
Fabinho's 47 games in all tournaments this season have seen him register eight goals and one assist for Liverpool, and Henderson is expected to play in the holding role at Wembley this weekend.
Klopp therefore has an added selection dilemma for the final, with Curtis Jones, Naby Keita and James Milner all vying to join Henderson and Thiago Alcantara in the midfield.
Fabinho should be Liverpool's only absentee at Wembley, though, with Roberto Firmino recovering from a foot injury to make the bench at Villa Park in midweek.
The Reds head into Saturday's final aiming to scoop their eighth FA Cup crown and their first under Klopp, with their most recent triumph coming all the way back in the 2005-06 final against West Ham United.
The 2-1 success over Villa also leaves Liverpool three points adrift of Manchester City in the Premier League table, while they have already defeated Chelsea at Wembley once this term to win the EFL Cup. body check tags ::
