Liverpool will drop El Hadji Diouf against Celtic on Thursday after he spat at home fans in their UEFA Cup quarter-final first leg in Glasgow last week.
Senegalese international Diouf was fined two weeks wages and faces further UEFA punishment after television cameras clearly showed the player spitting at Celtic fans.
But Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has already moved to avoid a potential flashpoint in the return leg at Anfield this Thursday.
"We'll have to wait and see what UEFA say first," Houllier told the club's website today.
"They will make a decision at some point this week - but either way, I don't think I'll be playing Diouf in this game."
UEFA, who have requested a copy of the match video from the 1-1 first leg meeting at Parkhead, are expected to announce the results of their investigation tomorrow.
Diouf could receive a four-match European suspension.