Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers says striker Daniel Sturridge is back in the United States to fix an ongoing hip problem.
Rodgers, who also revealed that Mario Balotelli and Mamadou Sakho will not be in the squad to face Queens Park Rangers this weekend, hopes to have the 25-year-old fit for the start of pre-season in the summer.
"We have found some underlying issues that maybe relate to Dan's issues and problems that he's had this season, and the ongoing problems that he's had," Rodgers said on Friday afternoon.
"The staff and medical team here are liaising with some of the great medics in America and we're just doing everything we possibly can to give Daniel the opportunity to remain fit and consistent and available.
"We'll see how it goes between now and the end of the season, but it was something that we decided was going to be best for him to give him every chance to be consistently fit.
"Daniel is like every other player - he wants to play and wants to be available.
"It's just unfortunate for him that this has been a season that on the back of how fantastic he was last season, he really wanted to build on that."
Asked about the fitness level of captain Steven Gerrard, Rodgers said: "The Saturday-Tuesday game was always going to be difficult, but certainly having had a good week's preparation, he'll be fit and flying for the weekend.
"He's just approaching every game and giving his maximum; his concentration has never waned, he has been really focused on helping the team. It will be exactly the same tomorrow."
