Gareth Bale's hip injury will keep him out of Real Madrid's trip to Liverpool

The Welshman has suffered an injury to the piriformis muscle at the top of his right leg while on international duty last week.

He subsequently watched Real's 5-0 win over Levante on Saturday from the bench, before the European champions confirmed his fitness struggle on Monday.

And he has now been officially ruled out, after failing to make Real's 20-man squad for the Anfield trip, though Karim Benzema has shaken off a toe injury to see his name included.

Bale's absence also plunges his involvement in Saturday's Clasico into doubt.

While Real will be shorn of one of their top attackers, Luis Suarez is expected to make a competitive Barcelona debut in the Santiago Bernabeu clash.