Enrique and Teixeira left out as Liverpool name Europa League squad

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Brendan Rodgers has today submitted his completed squad list for this season’s Europa League group stage.

The 21-man squad includes two notable omissions – defender Jose Enrique and midfielder Joao Carlos Teixeira – who both failed to do enough to earn a spot in the team due to the various UEFA restrictions currently in place.

As ESPN explain, the Reds were permitted to name a 25-man squad, with the understanding that at least eight of those players would be homegrown. However, in an additional UEFA caveat, at least four of those eight players must have been trained at the club – meaning they’ve spent three years with us before they turn 21.

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The only player that fulfils those requirements is Jon Flanagan, who is currently sidelined through injury, and as such the Reds have had to give up those four places in our squad – meaning there’s no room for Enrique or Teixeira.

In addition, we are permitted to include an unlimited number of under-21 players on what is known as a ‘B’ list – but as ESPN explain, in order to be eligible, a player has to have been both born after Jan. 1, 1994, and needs to have had an uninterrupted two-year spell with the club at some point since the age of 15.

Jordon Ibe is the only member of the current first-team squad who would fall under this category – although the likes of Jerome Sinclair and Ryan Kent would also qualify for selection in this way.

Squad in full: Simon Mignolet, Adam Bogdan; Nathaniel Clyne, Kolo Toure, Dejan Lovren, Joe Gomez, Mamadou Sakho, Alberto Moreno, Martin Skrtel; James Milner, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Lucas Leiva, Emre Can, Joe Allen; Christian Benteke, Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi, Danny Ings.

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