Liverpool have confirmed their squad for the Champions League knock-out stages, making one change for the second half of the season.
Clubs are allowed to make up to three changes to their squad following the January transfer window, but Jurgen Klopp has only needed to utilise one with winter signing Luis Diaz replacing Nat Phillips following his loan move to AFC Bournemouth.
Due to UEFA homegrown rules, Liverpool remain unable to name a full 25-man squad due to only having three of the necessary four club-trained players over the age of 21 on their books.
As such, Klopp has registered a 24-man squad for the knock-out stages, where the Reds will take on Inter Milan in the round-of-16. However, he will not be left short with the likes of Curtis Jones still eligible for selection as a ‘List B’ underage player.
While Liverpool had to submit their squad of ‘List A’ players by 11pm on February 1, they are still able to add to ‘List B’ before each matchday. As a result, Rhys Williams and Leighton Clarkson could both be made available for selection at a later date following their January returns from loan spells with Swansea City and Blackburn Rovers respectively.
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However, Kaide Gordon remains ineligible to play in the Champions League due to UEFA homegrown rules.
While of age to be registered as a ‘List B’ player, having been born on, or after, 1 January 2000 - the midfielder doesn’t actually yet fulfil the criteria to be counted as such.
UEFA rules state that an of age player can be registered on ‘List B’ if he; “has been eligible to play for the club concerned for any uninterrupted period of two years since his 15th birthday by the time he is registered with UEFA, or a total of three consecutive years with a maximum of one loan period to a club from the same association for a period not longer than one year.”
Such a rule is why Harvey Elliott has been registered in the Reds squad despite being just 18 years old.
And with Gordon only joining the club from Derby County last February, his absence from ‘List A’ means he will remain unavailable for selection in the Champions League this season.
Liverpool 2021/22 potential Champions League squad in full
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Adrian, Caoimhin Kelleher (CT).
Defenders: Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez (CT), Kostas Tsimikas, Andy Robertson, Joel Matip, Trent Alexander-Arnold (CT).
Midfielders: Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara, James Milner (AT), Naby Keita, Jordan Henderson (AT), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (AT), Harvey Elliott (AT).
Forwards: Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Takumi Minamino, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, Divock Origi.
‘List A’ player added: Luis Diaz
‘List A’ player removed: Nat Phillips
Current 'List B' players: Harvey Davies, Neco Williams (out on loan), James Norris, Jarell Quansah, Luke Chambers, Billy Koumetio, Curtis Jones, Elijah Dixon-Bonner, Owen Beck, Dominic Corness, Tyler Morton, Max Woltman, Conor Bradley, James Balagizi, Harvey Blair, Oakley Cannonier.
Potential new ‘List B’ players: Rhys Williams, Leighton Clarkson.
