Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Paul Gorst

Liverpool double illness blow confirmed as three changes made for Villarreal

Jurgen Klopp makes three changes to the Liverpool team that hosts Villarreal in the Champions League semi-final first leg.

Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas are absent from the squad altogether due to illness and not Covid-19.

Ibrahima Konate comes back into the side for Joel Matip as the French defender partners Virgil van Dijk at the centre of defence with Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold on the left and right, respectively.

In midfield, captain Jordan Henderson returns for Naby Keita as the in-form duo of Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho keep their place from Sunday's 2-0 win over Everton in the Merseyside derby.

READ MORE: 'Our country needs you!' - Alastair Campbell writes open letter to Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp

READ MORE: 'It's the worst stadium I've been to' - Villarreal midfielder Etienne Capoue makes Anfield 'hell' claim

And up top, Sadio Mane shuffles into the centre-forward role as Luis Diaz is named on the left with Diogo Jota dropping to a strong-looking bench that also includes Divock Origi, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Takumi Minamino and Keita.

Harvey Elliott returns to the match-day squad after playing for the Under-23s side earlier this week with Rhys Williams also part of the 12-man bench.

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago, Henderson; Salah, Mane, Diaz.

Subs: Adrian, Kelleher, Milner, Keita, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Minamino, Jota, Origi, Matip, R. Willians, Elliott.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.