As Liverpool prepares for the final stages of the most prestigious tournament in European club football, Jurgen Klopp has made three significant changes to his Champions League team.
The Reds were needed to submit an updated list of players they would be able to call upon for the remainder of the competition after securing their spot in the tournament’s final 16. Klopp has taken advantage of the chance to add three new players while leaving out the names of another three.
The three that are in the squad and will be aiming to make their mark against Europe’s elite are January signing Cody Gakpo, as well as the often-injured duo of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita.
Cody Gakpo, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita will be included in the Champions League squad from the round of 16.
That trio takes the place of injured summer loan signing Arthur, youngster Calvin Ramsay and emerging star Stefan Bajcetic.
Due to UEFA ruling, Bajcetic is now classed as an academy player for the Reds as he has been on the books for at least two years. In turn, this means the young Spaniard will occupy a place on List B.
Stefan Bajcetic does not need to register but can still play for Liverpool
Other notable additions include Luis Diaz, who has not been seen since early October due to a knee injury sustained during the 3-2 league defeat by Arsenal. He is kept in the Champions League squad, meaning the Colombian is expected to feature for Klopp’s side some time soon.
Diaz is not the only Liverpool player to have his season curtailed by injury, with fellow forwards Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino all also recently enduring a spell on the sidelines.
Ahead of the Reds’ trip to Wolves on Saturday afternoon, Klopp issued a fitness update where he addressed how the aforementioned trio are getting on in their varying stages of recovery.
Summmer signing Arthur has been omitted from Liverpool’s Champions League squad for the knockout rounds
“Generally it’s looking better,” the Liverpool manager claimed. “The boys are training, Diogo Jota had a full session with the team this week but then the next day had again a rehab session, not because of the session the day before, it was just part of the plan. I think he will be back in normal training next week.
“Bobby [Firmino] is getting closer obviously, very good. Luis [Diaz] is running now, it will take a few weeks still but he is now out on the pitch as well running, which is really good.”
Liverpool have three more Premier League fixtures before they can turn their attention to their last-16 two-legged clɑsh with last season’s fellow finalists Real Madrid.
The Reds will surely be out for revеnge following their 1-0 defeat by Los Blancos in Paris last May that robbed Liverpool from lifting what would have been their seventh Champions League title.
:focal(1297x480:1299x478)/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2022/11/01/3482705-71001268-2560-1440.jpg)
Champions League is the last hope for Liverpool’s disappointing season
Liverpool’s updated Champions League squad:Alisson, Kelleher, Adrian, Van Dijk, Konate, Matip, Gomez, Phillips, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Tsimikas, Thiago, Fabinho, Henderson, Keita, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Diaz, Nunez, Gakpo, Jota, Firmino, Carvalho.
Notable List B players: Davies, Williams, Bajcetic, Jones, Elliott.