Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool's injury crisis has 'changed everything' this season and asking Trent Alexander-Arnold or Andy Robertson to fill in at centre half would risk even more disruption.
Klopp, whose side travel to Sheffield United down in sixth place, has been forced to use 18 different partnerships at centre-back because of long-term injuries to Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, with Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Naby Keita, Diogo Jota and James Milner also sidelined.
Youngsters Nathan Phillips, Ozan Kabak, Rhys Williams and new Preston signing Ben Davies are fighting it out to start for the ailing champions at Bramall Lane.