Liverpool have eight players unavailable vs Ajax Amsterdam

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool take on Ajax Amsterdam for their second game of the UEFA Champions League group stage this evening and they will hope to bounce back from the opening day defeat in Italy.

The Reds got off to the worst possible start as they were outplayed by Napoli in every department for their last game. The players struggled to perform and were privy to a humiliating 4-1 loss.

Now, they will host Dutch champions Ajax and it will not be an easy task. If all this was not enough, Klopp will have eight players on the sidelines.

Andy Robertson is out with Kostas Tsimikas expected to start in the left-back position. Arthur Melo could be handed his first start after a short cameo last time out. Klopp, in a press conference last afternoon gave an update.

[Robertson is] injured. Robbo now is not 100 per cent, it was very late, in the 93rd minute or whatever, he actually felt it the next day only, but yes he is out and he is out at least until after the international break. Curtis Jones is not available and Fabio Carvalho trained yesterday as normal and will be available.

Other players who are out injured include Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Calvin Ramsey, Caoimhin Kelleher, Ibrahima Konate, Curtis Jones, Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita. Thiago Alcantara returned from injury and featured against Napoli. Whether he will return to the starting XI remains to be seen.

Joe Gomez was terrible last time and Joel Matip is expected to start with Virgil van Dijk at the back. Darwin Nunez is expected to start with Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz on the wings. Arthur along with Thiago and Fabinho is expected to start in the middle of the park.

The Reds were to play Wolverhampton Wanderers before this game, but that was cancelled due to The Queen’s passing away. Liverpool will also not travel to Chelsea next week as that too has been postponed.

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The Liverpool squad available to Klopp in full:

Goalkeepers: Alisson Becker, Adrian.

Defenders: Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Kostas Tsimikas, Nat Phillips, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk.

Midfielders: Arthur, Fabinho, Fabio Carvalho, Harvey Elliott, James Milner, Thiago Alcantara.

Forwards: Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Roberto Firmino.