Liverpool double illness blow confirmed as three changes made for Villarreal

Jurgen Klopp makes three changes to the Liverpool team that hosts Villarreal in the Champions League semi-final first leg.

Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas are absent from the squad altogether due to illness and not Covid-19.

Ibrahima Konate comes back into the side for Joel Matip as the French defender partners Virgil van Dijk at the centre of defence with Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold on the left and right, respectively.

In midfield, captain Jordan Henderson returns for Naby Keita as the in-form duo of Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho keep their place from Sunday's 2-0 win over Everton in the Merseyside derby.

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And up top, Sadio Mane shuffles into the centre-forward role as Luis Diaz is named on the left with Diogo Jota dropping to a strong-looking bench that also includes Divock Origi, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Takumi Minamino and Keita.

Harvey Elliott returns to the match-day squad after playing for the Under-23s side earlier this week with Rhys Williams also part of the 12-man bench.

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago, Henderson; Salah, Mane, Diaz.

Subs: Adrian, Kelleher, Milner, Keita, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Minamino, Jota, Origi, Matip, R. Willians, Elliott.