Liverpool travels to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday, with the hosts' under-fire boss Pierre Sage having confirmed a major blow for his side ahead of the game

Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage has confirmed Ismaila Sarr will be missing for his side’s meeting with Liverpool - just a few months after the forward could have joined the Reds instead.

Sarr was the subject of a failed bid from Liverpool during the summer transfer window, during a time in which Andoni Iraola’s side had been looking to add to its attacking options before landing Bradley Barcola.

Having seen Mohamed Salah depart, Sarr looked to be one of the frontrunners to replace the Egyptian on the right, but a $66 million offer was rejected as the Senegal international stayed put at Selhurst Park.

That’s despite the player and his agent appearing to actively push for a departure through public statements and social media activity, and now with Liverpool set to visit Palace on Sunday, Sarr won’t get the opportunity to audition for a future move to Anfield.

The 28-year-old has missed much of this season through injury, with just five appearances - including only one start - under his belt so far. A fresh problem has seen him miss recent games, including the midweek draw with Hoffenheim in the Europa League, and he won’t be back in time to face what could have been his new club.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Sage gave an update on Sarr, confirming: “He will come back after the international break.”

The Reds might have mixed feelings about Sarr’s absence. The winger has made a habit of saving some of his best performances for Liverpool, with seven goals and two assist from his 10 encounters, but considering what happened during the summer, a closer look at him might have been welcome.

Speaking about Liverpool’s pursuit of Sarr, Palace chairman Steve Parish said in September: "It's unfortunate with Ismaila, but that wasn't really a situation that was of our doing.

"A club (Liverpool) came in and, with the amount of money they bid, they couldn't seriously think in that market it was going to get done at that level, and then they didn't come back in for him.

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"If you're selling players for £90M and then you want to bid us half of that for the replacement, it's fine, you can do it.

"I'm not criticizing anybody for doing it. But it's not going to happen."

Palace will also be without the suspended Jean-Philippe Mateta against Liverpool after the striker’s sending-off against Tottenham last weekend, but Sage has confirmed Jorgen Strand Larsen is ready to start, having been an unused substitute against Hoffenheim after returning from injury.