Liverpool Name Full Champions League Squad Including Philippe Coutinho

Liverpool have today named their A and B list squads for the upcoming Champions League group stage, with 22 players having been named to the A list and a further 10 B list players named. The squad is now set for the autumn, though the club will be able to submit a new one at the close of the January transfer window.

In the least surprising news of the day—unless perhaps you’re a Spanish journalist still expecting him to be unveiled at the Camp Nou on Friday—Philippe Coutinho has been named to the squad. In the most surprising news of the day, Nathaniel Clyne hasn’t been as it appears the club don’t expect him to play until the new year.

Meanwhile, the inclusion of Kent and Ojo in the B list—currently on loan with Freiburg and Fulham—speaks to the fact that both can be recalled by the club before the January transfer window should the need arise, and if they are, both would then be eligible to appear for Liverpool in the Champions League group stages.

The omission of Clyne, though, is the headliner. Due to only having one club trained player, Liverpool’s squad is capped at 22, but if Clyne had been expected back one has to think he would be included, perhaps in place of one of the three goalkeepers. That he isn’t seems to make the announcement confirmation of a long-term injury.

Clubs can name up to 25 players to the A list, but eight of those must be homegrown and a further four of those eight must have been trained at the club. Liverpool have no shortage of homegrown players in their squad, but they only have one who counts as club trained in Jon Flanagan, which limits them to a 22-man squad.

Though he is likely the most fringe player named to the A list squad, Flanagan couldn’t have made way for Clyne. As a club trained player, Flanagan’s removal would have meant only being able to name a 21-man squad, making him essentially a free inclusion—if he’s at the club, there’s no reason not to add him.

After naming the A list squad, clubs can then name as many underage players who have been at the club for at least two seasons as they want to the B list squad. In addition to Clyne, Lazar Markovic and Danny Ings have also been left out of the squad entirely.

Goalkeeper

Loris Karius
Simon Mignolet
Danny Ward

Defenders

Dejan Lovren
Ragnar Klavan
Alberto Moreno
Andy Robertson
Joël Matip
Jon Flanagan

Midfielders

Georginio Wijnaldum
James Milner
Philippe Coutinho
Jordan Hendersn
Marko Grujic
Adam Lallana
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Emre Can

Forwards

Roberto Firmino
Mohamed Salah
Daniel Sturridge
Sadio Mané
Dominic Solanke

Defenders

Joe Gomez
Conor Masterson
Trent Alexander-Arnold

Midfielders

Cameron Brannagan
Ovie Ejaria
Sheyi Ojo

Forwards

Ryan Kent
Rhian Brewster
Ben Woodburn
Harry Wilson