Liverpool name 23-man Club World Cup squad and include Harvey Elliott but will be without Joel Matip and

Liverpool have announced their 23-man squad for the Club World Cup in Qatar and will be without injured duo Joel Matip and Fabinho, but will bring 16-year-old Harvey Elliott.

Midfielder Fabinho sustained ankle ligament damage during the 1-1 draw with Napoli in the Champions League, while Matip, the centre-back, has been missing since the Reds’ draw 1-1 at Manchester United in October.

Jurgen Klopp has included fellow youngsters Rhian Brewster, 19, and 18-year-old pair Neco Williams and Curtis Jones, who had been expected to play against Aston Villa, but will now travel to the Far East.

Speaking about Elliot in October, Klopp talked up his talent after his young side beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup.

“It’s easy to be convinced about him when you see him training. He is an exceptional talent really and is a nice kid as well.

“To see him encourage the crowd around the corners, I had a couple of moments where I was really touched.”

A packed December schedule means the Club World Cup clashes with the Carabao Cup and Liverpool will be forced to play two squads in the space of 24 hours in two different continents, with their quarter-final tie against Aston Villa coming less than 24 hours before their Club World Cup semi-final.

Neil Critchley, the Under-23 coach, will be in charge for the match at Villa Park on December 17.

The club are eight points clear at the top of the Premier League, still in every competition they entered at the start of the season.

Being crowned European champions for the sixth time last season has added to their congested schedule as they bid to win the Club World Cup for the first time, having failed to do so in 2005.

Players suffering from illness or injury prior to Liverpool’s first match in the competition can be replaced in the squad up to 24 hours before kick-off.

Liverpool’s 23-man squad for Qatar

Alisson, Van Dijk, Wijnaldum, Lovren, Milner, Keita, Firmino, Mane, Salah, Gomez, Adrian, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lallana, Lonergan, Shaqiri, Brewster, Robertson, Origi, Jones, Alexander-Arnold, Elliott, Williams.