Liverpool remain unable to name a full 25-man Premier League squad for the second-half of the season following their January transfer business.
The Reds signed Luis Diaz from FC Porto in a deal which could be worth up to £49m, but saw a deadline day deal for Fabio Carvalho collapse after they ran out of time to complete his loan return to Fulham.
However, the Cottagers did manage to sign Neco Williams on loan, while Nat Phillips also moved to the Championship on a temporary basis as he was loaned to AFC Bournemouth.
And the latter’s exit ensures Liverpool’s squad will be smaller than the one registered back in the summer due to Premier League homegrown rules.
Premier League sides are allowed to name no more than 17 overseas players in their 25-man squads, with the eight remaining places available to homegrown players.
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A homegrown player means a player who, irrespective of nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to The FA (or Wales FA) for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons, or 36 months, before his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21).
Jurgen Klopp named a 24-man squad in the summer, utilising his full allocation of 17 overseas players with the loan exits of Sheyi Ojo, Ben Davies and Ben Woodburn leaving him unable to name eight homegrown players over the age of 21.
And with Phillips one of those seven homegrown players previously registered, it means Liverpool will now be left with a 23-man squad for the second half of the season.
However, Klopp will not be left short with the Reds still boasting a number of under-21 players, born on or after 1 January 2000, who do not need to be registered.
Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Rhys Williams, who was recalled from a season-long loan to Swansea City last month, are three who don’t need to be registered to feature for Liverpool, along with the likes of Kaide Gordon, Tyler Morton and Conor Bradley.
Meanwhile, Diaz’s arrival also means Klopp will have to leave out one of the 18 senior overseas players currently on the Reds’ books.
However, the German will be left with a rather straightforward decision as to who to drop from his squad with Loris Karius set to be axed ahead of leaving the club in the summer.
The goalkeeper hasn’t played a competitive game for Liverpool since his performance in the 2018 Champions League final and while he was named in the Reds squad for the first half of the season, it didn’t change the fact he has no long-term future at Anfield.
Liverpool 2021/22 potential Premier League squad in full
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Adrian, Caoimhin Kelleher (HG).
Defenders: Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez (HG), Kostas Tsimikas, Andy Robertson, Joel Matip, Trent Alexander-Arnold (HG).
Midfielders: Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara, James Milner (HG), Naby Keita, Jordan Henderson (HG), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (HG).
Forwards: Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Takumi Minamino, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, Divock Origi.
Senior Under-21s players: Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Rhys Williams, Kaide Gordon, Owen Beck, Leighton Clarkson, Tyler Morton, Conor Bradley.
