Both Gregory Vignal and Stephen Warnock - who are currently enjoying year-long loans at Bastia and Coventry respectively - could offer much-needed competition for John Arne Riise at left-back while right-back Markus Babbel and striker Neil Mellor would also bring added strength to a squad now looking increasingly vulnerable.
Gerard Houllier knows only too well that the above players would be better served contesting for places at Anfield, but he admits that no such allowances for Liverpool's current injury plight were made when contracts with rival clubs were finalised.
"There's nothing we can do," conceded Houllier. "We can't bring anyone back."