Liverpool add five new players to Champions League squad

Liverpool’s Champions League squad for second half of season set

Liverpool made three changes to their 24-man senior Champions League squad in the second half of the season, including Cody Gakpo, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The Reds have taken full advantage of their three allocated changes, including their signing in January and the midfield duo, who both missed the first half of the season through injury.

Luis Diaz is also included as he continues to recover from knee surgery. The Colombian is expected to return in March so he’s unlikely to face Real Madrid in the round of 16.

Along with Gakpo, Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain, Liverpool have left out Calvin Ramsay and Arthur Melo, while Stefan Bajcetic falls back into the B list after two years as a Reds player. Rhys Williams and Kaide Gordon are also included in the B list, while Luke Chambers is removed after joining Kilmarnock on loan.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp talks to his players

Liverpool made three changes to their 24-man Champions League squad in the second half of the season, including Cody Gakpo, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The Reds have made full use of their three allocated changes, including their January signing and midfield duo, who were both ruled out in the first half of the season through injury.

Luis Diaz is also included as he continues to recover from knee surgery. The Colombian is expected to return in March so he’s unlikely to face Real Madrid in the round of 16.

With Gakpo, Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain all included, Liverpool have sidelined Calvin Ramsay and Arthur Melo, while Stefan Bajcetic drops to the B-list after two years as a Reds player. Rhys Williams and Kaide Gordon also join the B-list, while Luke Chambers is removed after joining Kilmarnock on loan.

In total, this means that there have been five additions to the combined picklists (Gakpo/Keita/Oxlade-Chamberlain/Williams/Gordon), with two players retiring (Ramsay/Melo) and one moving on (Chambers ).

Ramsay made his Liverpool debut in the Champions League against Napoli in November, but has been limited to just two appearances through injury since he completed his summer move from Aberdeen. With James Milner and Joe Gomez able to play at right-back, Klopp made the decision to drop the 19-year-old.

Meanwhile, Arthur made his only Liverpool appearance to date against Napoli in September, coming off the bench in the last 13 minutes as the Reds were defeated 4-1. The Brazilian will undergo thigh surgery in October and will return to training in the coming weeks, but as Klopp has 10 other major midfielders, the decision has been made to leave the Juventus mercenary out.

Liverpool’s Champions League squad

Goalkeepers: Alisson Becker, Adrian, Caoimhin Kelleher (coached by the club).

Defenders: Joe Gomez (club training), Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Kostas Tsimikas, Andy Robertson, Joel Matip, Nat Phillips (club training), Trent Alexander-Arnold (club training).

Midfielders: Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara, James Milner (trained in federation), Naby Keita, Jordan Henderson (trained in federation), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (trained in federation), Fabio Carvalho (trained in federation). Players: Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez.

List spellers B: Harvey Davies, Rhys Williams, Isaac Wood, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Stefan Bajcetic, Dominic Corness, Kaide Gordon, Melkam Frauendorf.