KEY POINTS

  • The Reds defender missed the victory over Southampton with a thigh problem.
  • Lallana in contention to make his first appearance of the season.

Liverpool defender Joel Matip will miss Tuesday's (21 October) Champions League clash against Sevilla after being omitted from the travelling squad flying out to Spain on Monday.

Matip, 26, suffered a thigh injury last week that saw him ruled out of Saturday's 3-0 win over Southampton. With a huge Premier League clash against Chelsea looming at the weekend, Liverpool have decided to leave the Cameroon international at home to continue his rehabilitation at Melwood.

Dejan Lovren was recalled to the Liverpool starting 11 in the comfortable win over Saints, his first appearance for the club since his nightmare afternoon at Wembley in the heavy defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in October.

The Croatia international could now start again against Sevilla alongside Ragnar Klavan.

Adam Lallana meanwhile is among the travelling squad having recovered from a thigh injury that has prevented him from making a single appearance this season. Jurgen Klopp had indicated last week the England international would make the bench against his former club at the weekend but eventually opted against including the midfielder.

He could return at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on Tuesday, with striker Danny Ings and Marko Grujic also making the trip.

Liverpool currently lead Group E, ahead of Sevilla by a single point. While the Reds were held to a home draw in their reverse fixture at Anfield in September, a win on Tuesday will be enough for Klopp's side to seal qualification for the knockout stages of the competition and leave them in a commanding position to top the group.

They host Russian champions Spartak Moscow in the final round of group games with that fixture to take place on 6 December.

Liverpool travelling squad for Sevilla clash: Karius, Wijnaldum, Lovren, Milner, Firmino, Coutinho, Salah, Gomez, Henderson, Sturridge, Grujic, Klavan, Moreno, Mane, Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mignolet, Can, Robertson, Ings, Solanke, Ward, Alexander-Arnold.

Joel Matip
Matip did not make the trip to Spain. Getty