Liverpool Team News vs Sevilla: Matip misses out, Karius set to start

Jurgen Klopp has just two key first-team players sidelined as Liverpool prepare to take on Sevilla in a crunch Champions League tie on Tuesday.

Liverpool will be bidding to clinch qualification to the Round of 16, when they visit the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on Tuesday to take on Sevilla in a top-of-the-table Group E clash. Heading into the crunch tie, Jurgen Klopp will be buoyed by the fact that his injury woes are easing with each passing week.

The Liverpool boss will be without just two key first-team players on Tuesday, although the absence of Joel Matip does weaken his defence to an extent. The Cameroonian centre-back is yet to completely recover from the thigh strain that forced him to miss the game against Southampton last weekend.

Nathaniel Clyne (back) is the other major absentee, with the Englishman still a few more weeks away from regaining fitness. Klopp shed some light on Matip’s situation in his pre-match press conference, as he said that the player has resumed training and is likely to be available for the game against Chelsea on Saturday.

“The squad looks good. They are pretty much all here from the normal squad, apart from Joel. He is in Liverpool and full training, so all good. He is good. I think there will be a big chance he will be ready for Saturday, but there was no chance for this game – it was a little bit too quick, but it’s all good.”

Klopp also spoke at length about Adam Lallana, who has resumed training following recovery from a long-term thigh injury. The German manager said that the English midfielder will be eased back into the scheme of things in order to avoid a recurrence of the problem.

“He is getting nearer and nearer, but we need him for the rest of the season and not for the next weeks. He is really knocking on the door and it’s fantastic that he is back. It’s great.”

The Liverpool boss also confirmed that Loris Karius will replace Simon Mignolet to take his customary place between the sticks, but didn’t divulge anything more when asked about other possible changes to his side on Tuesday.

“Maybe! The last game was not that intense, so we could go with the same line-up for sure – but 100 per cent we will not, because Loris will play! So, yes – we will make a change!”

Meanwhile, Sevilla boss Eduardo Berizzo has a number of injury concerns on his hands. The likes of Jose Mena Rodriguez (groin), Nicolas Pareja (groin) and Daniel Carrico (thigh) sidelined, while Sebastian Corchia (knee), Gabriel Mercado (hamstring) and Walter Montoya (groin) are doubtful for the game.

Jurgen Klopp has just two key first-team players sidelined as Liverpool prepare to take on Sevilla in a crunch Champions League tie on Tuesday.

Liverpool will be bidding to clinch qualification to the Round of 16, when they visit the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on Tuesday to take on Sevilla in a top-of-the-table Group E clash. Heading into the crunch tie, Jurgen Klopp will be buoyed by the fact that his injury woes are easing with each passing week.

The Liverpool boss will be without just two key first-team players on Tuesday, although the absence of Joel Matip does weaken his defence to an extent. The Cameroonian centre-back is yet to completely recover from the thigh strain that forced him to miss the game against Southampton last weekend.

Nathaniel Clyne (back) is the other major absentee, with the Englishman still a few more weeks away from regaining fitness. Klopp shed some light on Matip’s situation in his pre-match press conference, as he said that the player has resumed training and is likely to be available for the game against Chelsea on Saturday.

“The squad looks good. They are pretty much all here from the normal squad, apart from Joel. He is in Liverpool and full training, so all good. He is good. I think there will be a big chance he will be ready for Saturday, but there was no chance for this game – it was a little bit too quick, but it’s all good.”

Klopp also spoke at length about Adam Lallana, who has resumed training following recovery from a long-term thigh injury. The German manager said that the English midfielder will be eased back into the scheme of things in order to avoid a recurrence of the problem.

“He is getting nearer and nearer, but we need him for the rest of the season and not for the next weeks. He is really knocking on the door and it’s fantastic that he is back. It’s great.”

The Liverpool boss also confirmed that Loris Karius will replace Simon Mignolet to take his customary place between the sticks, but didn’t divulge anything more when asked about other possible changes to his side on Tuesday.

“Maybe! The last game was not that intense, so we could go with the same line-up for sure – but 100 per cent we will not, because Loris will play! So, yes – we will make a change!”

Meanwhile, Sevilla boss Eduardo Berizzo has a number of injury concerns on his hands. The likes of Jose Mena Rodriguez (groin), Nicolas Pareja (groin) and Daniel Carrico (thigh) sidelined, while Sebastian Corchia (knee), Gabriel Mercado (hamstring) and Walter Montoya (groin) are doubtful for the game.