Aston Villa boss Remi Garde has confirmed that on-loan defender Tiago Ilori has returned to Liverpool.
Sky sources reported on Thursday that the injury-hit Reds were considering asking Villa to bring Ilori's season-long loan deal to an early close.
Jurgen Klopp's side are currently without Mamadou Sakho, Martin Skrtel, Dejan Lovren and Kolo Toure - all four of their recognised central defenders.
Speaking at Villa's pre-match news conference, Garde revealed a deal had been agreed for Ilori, who never featured for Villa's first team, to cut short his spell in the West Midlands.
"He has gone back," Garde said. "The player was not happy about his situation at this football club and not playing.
"When I arrived he was not totally fit, I don't know exactly what happened between August and the beginning of November. He was not always injured, but he trained with me.
"I have a lot of options in that part of the field, there was a lot of competition, and he was not happy not to play. But it was my decision and he's gone back to Liverpool."
Ilori has yet to make a first-team appearance for Liverpool since a £7m move from Sporting Lisbon in 2013.
The 22-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Bordeaux, could now make his debut in Friday's FA Cup tie at Exeter City.