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Mario Balotelli will miss Liverpool’s crunch Champions League clash with Ludogorets in Bulgaria on Wednesday night.

The Italian striker was a notable absentee from the 21-man squad when the Reds arrived at John Lennon Airport to board their flight to Sofia.

Balotelli is still hampered by the groin injury which forced him to sit out Sunday’s dismal 3-1 league defeat to Crystal Palace.

The Reds in training this morning

Boss Brendan Rodgers will be able to welcome back Jordan Henderson as the Reds look to end a miserable run of four straight defeats.

The vice-captain sat out the weekend’s setback in the capital due to a virus.

Full-back Jose Enrique has been passed fit for a game Liverpool must win to re-ignite their hopes of reaching the knockout stages but Mamadou Sakho (thigh) remains out.

The £18million centre-back hasn’t played since the League Cup tie with Middlesbrough in September. Daniel Sturridge, Jon Flanagan and Suso also remain sidelined by injury.

Liverpool’s 21-man squad v Ludogorets: Mignolet, Jones, Johnson, Enrique, Toure, Lovren, Gerrard, Lambert, Coutinho, Henderson, Moreno, Manquillo, Lallana, Lucas, Can, Allen, Borini, Sterling, Skrtel, Markovic, Ward