Liverpool Gears Up for Europa Challenge: The 23-man Revealed
After a pulsating season, Liverpool now find themselves preparing for the Europa League, a competition they haven’t graced since 2016. The whisperings from Anfield have now turned into official declarations, with Jurgen Klopp naming the 23 men that will wear the Liverpool crest in the tournament, the squad first reported by This Is Anfield.
Adrian: The Anfield Enigma
Despite rumours suggesting otherwise, Jurgen Klopp has decided to exclude the experienced Adrian from the main roster. Given that the Reds could only register 17 players on the ‘List A’, the omission does raise an eyebrow. However, we may still see the Spaniard in action due to a UEFA regulation, especially if misfortune befalls Alisson or Caoimhin Kelleher.
UEFA’s Squad Dynamics
UEFA’s recent deadline witnessed teams scrambling to get their lists in order. Here’s the lowdown: a team can register a maximum of 25 players on their ‘A list’. From these, at least eight should be ‘locally trained’, and only up to four can be ‘association trained’. Beyond this, the ‘B list’ offers a free pass to an unlimited number of players born post-2002, who have clocked in two years at their current clubs.
The arrival of Ryan Gravenberch complicated matters for Klopp. Decisions had to be made, and Vitezslav Jaros and Bobby Clark earned their stripes to be part of the ‘A list’. Klopp’s faith in the duo indicates their growing stature within the club.
Europa Group Stage: No Room for Surprises
As Liverpool sets their sights on Group E fixtures with LASK, Union SG, and Toulouse, Klopp’s selection hasn’t thrown any major curveballs. The journey begins with a promising fixture against LASK on September 21. Fans will reminisce about the team’s last sojourn into the Europa League which took them to the grand final in Basel. A similar journey, culminating in Dublin this time, is what every Liverpudlian dreams of.
Liverpool’s Europa Army for 2023/24
- Goalkeepers: Alisson, Kelleher, Jaros
- Defenders: Van Dijk, Konate, Gomez, Matip, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Tsimikas
- Midfielders: Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Thiago, Gravenberch, Jones, Endo, Clark
- Forwards: Salah, Diaz, Gakpo, Nunez, Jota, Doak
- Potential List B additions: Pitaluga, Quansah, Bradley, Bajcetic, Elliott
