3 Sept 2016

Anfield Update: Big surprise as Klopp names Liverpool misfit and 'spectacular' £20m outcast in Premier League squad

Earlier today, Liverpool officially confirmed the club's 25-man Premier League squad, and as usual, there were a couple of surprises.

* FULL SQUAD: Can, Clyne, Coutinho, Firmino, Henderson, Ilori, Ings, Karius, Klavan, Lallana, Lovren, Mane, Manninger, Matip, Mignolet, Milner, Moreno, Lucas, Sakho, Stewart, Sturridge, Wijnaldum.

A few points:

* Mamadou Sakho is under the cosh at Anfield right now, so his inclusion is a surprise, though it remains to be seen whether Sakho will be given the chance to redeem himself.

* Another surprise is the inclusion of Tiago Ilori, who was heavily linked with a move away during the summer transfer window. With Ilori in the squad, that's six central defenders available (including Lucas), so the team clearly has ample cover in that position.

* Divock Origi, Marko Grujic, Joe Gomez and Sheyi Ojo (the latter two are currently injured) are not included, but they're under 21, so there's no requirement are to officially register them.

What's immediately glaring the lack of depth in the central midfield and full-back positions, and this remains a huge issue.

Is this squad capable of finishing in the top four? Forget it. The squad will inevitably be decimated by injury (3 games into the season and Coutinho, Klavan, Can, Milner, Karius etc have already suffered issues), and Mane heading off to the African Cup of Nations in January.

You never know, though - perhaps Klopp and his team will surprise everyone this year.

* * Sakho: Cost Liverpool £20m. Hailed by Klopp last season as 'really spectacular'.


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