Football journalist Paul Joyce has revealed Philippe Coutinho is targeting a shock return to actionagainstManchester Cityon New Year's Eve - just one month away.
Despite gruesome-looking images of Coutinho's injury doing the rounds on Twitter, the Brazilian playmaker will officially only be sidelined for around six weeks.
BREAKING NEWS: Philippe #Coutinho will miss 5-6 weeks with an ankle injury after having scans today. More to come... pic.twitter.com/8JNrVFgHY5
But Joyce reckons the attacking midfielder could be back as soon as the December 31 clash at Anfieldif everything goes well in his recovery.
Coutinho has been Liverpool's star performer alongside Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane this season - withthe attackingtrio plundering 16 league goals between themthis season.
Coutinho hoping to be back inside six weeks if all goes well. Makes Man City on Dec 31 a target for comeback
Jurgen Klopp's Reds briefly wentback to the top of the Premier League on Saturday before being knocked off again by Chelsea after their 2-1 win over Tottenham in the day's late kick-off.
With some favourable-looking fixtures to come forKlopp's men,some Liverpool supporters on Twitter haveremained unfazed by their talisman's injury - given that the rest of the team has been performing well so far.
But some were not so OK with the player's absence...
"Coutinho 'to miss 5-6 weeks' with ankle injury" pic.twitter.com/pGYI367bm5
According to fan site Empire of the Kop, the Merseyside derby against Evertonoffers the only "big" game over the festive period, suggesting that Coutinho's absence may not be the worst thing.
However the site does claim that the team needs to "navigate its way through" games against Bournemouth, West Ham, Middlesbrough and Stoke City.
Fans will be hoping Joyce'scommentsprove to be correct, given thatCoutinho has a good record against City. Sincehe arrived in the Premier League, he has scored four times against them, and notched one assist.