MADRID, SPAIN - Tuesday, November 4, 2014: Liverpool's Kolo Toure in action against Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League Group B match at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Kolo Toure not back to face Crystal Palace

Liverpool will be without Kolo Toure for Saturday’s FA Cup trip to Crystal Palace, confirmed assistant manager Colin Pascoe on Thursday.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 21, 2013: Liverpool's Kolo Toure in action against Southampton during the Premiership match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Pascoe, who was taking the Reds’ pre-match press conference due to Brendan Rodgers still be out of the country on a scouting trip said: “He’ll be back on Monday & we’ll see how he is and build him up for the next game.”

Toure has missed Liverpool’s last nine games since departing for African Cup of Nations duty with his country Ivory Coast, who lifted the trophy last weekend beating Ghana on penalties in the final – Toure himself scoring in the shootout.

Toure’s return could be pivotal for Liverpool. He’d been occupying the right sided centre-back role prior to Emre Can being moved into that role and Toure’s return would allow Can to move into centre-midfield.

With Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva now sidelined due to injury, Rodgers must decide whether to move the impressive German into midfield alongside Jordan Henderson, or keep the same back three in place and bring Joe Allen into midfield.

Can’s energy and drive late on in the wins over Bolton and Tottenham has been key in the last week, showing signs of leadership once moving further forward into midfield.

If Brendan Rodgers opts to move Can into midfield against Palace on Saturday he’ll have to choose between Dejan Lovren or Glen Johnson to take Can’s position on the right of defence.

Toure could make his return in the Europa League tie against Besiktas next Thursday.