Jurgen Klopp has elected to leave both Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain out of Liverpool's Champions League squad for the upcoming group stage.
The Reds are set to kick-off their latest venture into Europe’s premier club competition when they travel to Italy to take on Serie A giants Napoli this week. They will also face Dutch giants Ajax and Scottish side Rangers in this season's group.
Ahead of this week's opener, the Merseysiders' have named their squad for the group stages and while it will have a familiar look to it, last year's beaten finalists will be without the experienced midfield duo due to injury.
With neither Oxlade-Chamberlain or Keita expected to be fit for at least half of the Reds' six games over the next eight weeks, Klopp has made the decision not to include either man as they continue their road to recovery.
Former Arsenal man Oxlade-Chamberlain is currently sidelined with a thigh injury and is anticipated to be on the sidelines for an extended period.
Guinean midfielder Keita is also out for an indeterminate period, with his long-term future at Anfield in question, with the ex-RB Leipzig man into the final year of his deal. A date on his potential return to training has not yet been announced, despite suggestions his early season injury wasn't serious when it first occurred.
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New signing Arthur Melo and Stefan Bajcetic have been handed places in the A List whilst fellow midfielders Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones have not - basically because they don't need to be. That pairing have instead been named on the club’s B list courtesy of their age and because they've spent over three years attached to the club.
Deadline day arrival Arthur could be set to make his debut for the club against Napoli. The Brazilian was named on the bench in the Merseyside derby stalemate against Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday. Thiago Alcantara could potentially make his return to first-team training ahead of the showdown at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona but it remains to be seen if he will be fit enough to play.
In the meantime, Jordan Henderson and Fabio Carvalho are also dealing with their own respective problems. However, Klopp remained optimistic over the young Portuguese’s chances of recovering relatively quickly.
Speaking to BT Sport after the draw against Everton, the German said: "I'm not 100 percent sure but I think it's the muscle above the knee, a massive dead leg and very painful. One of the most painful things you can get - it should settle quickly but we will see."
Liverpool will aim to get their latest Champions League venture off to the perfect start in Italy.
The Reds have not failed to get out of a group since the 2014/15 season where they finished third behind Real Madrid and Basel and consequently dropped into the Europa League. Last season, they won all six of their group fixtures.
FULL SQUAD: Alisson, Adrian, Kelleher, Gomez, Van Dijk, Konate, Tsimikas, Ramsay, Robertson, Matip, Phillips, Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Thiago, Milner, Firmino, Henderson, Carvalho, Arthur, Bajcetic, Salah, Jota, Diaz, Nunez,
