John Riise - reuters

london (reuters)

Liverpool utility player John Arne Riise and midfielder Mohamed Sissoko have been ruled out of the Champions League Group A opener in Porto today.

The left-sided Norwegian injured his groin on international duty last week and will not travel to Portugal, the club's web site said yesterday. Sissoko is out with a leg injury.

Better news for last year's Champions League runners-up is the return to fitness of Fabio Aurelio, who will be in Rafael Benitez's squad to face the Portuguese champions.

Brazilian Aurelio has been out since April after rupturing his Achilles tendon against PSV Eindhoven in last season's Champions League quarter-final.

"Fabio is back which is good news for us," manager Rafael Benitez said. "He has worked hard to recover from his injury and could be a useful asset for us."