Jurgen Klopp has submitted his squad for Liverpool’s Champions League play-off against Hoffenheim, ahead of the first leg on August 15. The Reds take on Julian Nagelsmann’s side at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena on Tuesday night, before the second leg at Anfield on August 23. Representing one of the most important clashes in recent years for Liverpool, Klopp will be desperate to secure progress to the Champions’ League group stages at Hoffenheim’s expense. Klopp has named his squad for the two-legged tie, including Philippe Coutinho, who is currently courting interest from Barcelona. Youngsters Conor Masterson and Cameron Brannagan are surprise inclusions, but are likely named to fill the Reds’ quota for locally trained players.
Adam Lallana and Danny Ings miss out due to injury, but Nathaniel Clyne, Daniel Sturridge and Harry Wilson are all included, despite currently being sidelined. Neither Mamadou Sakho or Lazar Markovic are named, unsurprisingly, but Alberto Moreno is included, perhaps giving an indication as to his future under Klopp. However, given the two legs are to be held before the end of the transfer window, this does not serve as definitive proof of his plans for the upcoming campaign. All 20 clubs involved in the upcoming play-offs were required to submit their two squad lists to UEFA by midnight on Monday, with a maximum of 25 players on their List A.
Two places are reserved for goalkeepers, while a minimum of eight places are reserved for locally trained players (either by club or association). List B can include an unlimited number of players born on or after January 1, 1996 who have been eligible to play for the club for at least two years since their 15th birthday. Therefore, Klopp has named a total of 32 players for the two-legged play-off, and, if required, can add one further player by midnight on the day before the clash. The German will then be required to name another squad for the group stages of either the Champions League or the Europa League depending on the result.
Goalkeepers: Mignolet, Karius, Ward
Defenders: Matip, Lovren, Klavan, Gomez, Masterson*, Clyne, Alexander-Arnold*, Moreno, Robertson, Flanagan
Midfielders: Coutinho, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Can, Milner, Grujic, Brannagan*, Ejaria*, Woodburn*
Forwards: Firmino, Sturridge, Origi, Solanke, Mane, Salah, Kent*, Ojo*, Wilson*, Brewster*
