Divock Origi will not return until February at the earliest

Liverpool striker Divock Origi has undergone minor knee operation and will not return to action this month.

The 20-year-old striker suffered a hamstring injury in the 1-0 Boxing Day victory over high-flying Leicester and had been expected to be back in training next week.

Origi suffered a hamstring injury against Leicester on Boxing Day

But the Belgium international has now had surgery to fix a long-standing issue with his knee.

Origi, who has scored four goals in 16 games in all competitions for the Reds, is expected to be sidelined for the next three to four weeks.

Jurtgen Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com: "It wasn't really surgery, it was a clean-up of his knee. It was a little thing to do and we thought it was a good moment to do it - not the best of course, but because of his other injury we took the time.

"Now he is back and everything is okay. He is on time and hopefully we can use him in a few weeks."

That leaves Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp with just two available striking options in Christian Benteke and youngster Jerome Sinclair, who scored in Friday's 2-2 FA Cup draw with Exeter.

Daniel Sturridge is not yet ready to return from a hamstring strain sustained at Newcastle on December 6 and Danny Ings remains out for the season following cruciate knee ligament surgery.