Out-of-favour duo Adam Bogdan and Lazar Markovic were both included in Jurgen Klopp‘s 25-man Liverpool squad for the Premier League campaign.
The pair failed to secure moves away from Merseyside in the summer transfer window, despite being heavily linked with Nottingham Forest and Watford respectively.
Bogdan has not featured for the Reds since the last day of the 2015/16 campaign, when Klopp rotated his side ahead of the Europa League final.
Meanwhile, Markovic’s last competitive outing for Liverpool came in 2015, in a 2-1 victory at home to Queens Park Rangers, though the Serbian did turn out under Klopp in pre-season.
With Klopp required to name his Premier League squad by 4pm (BST) on Friday, both Bogdan and Markovic have been handed a lifeline.
Philippe Coutinho was also included, following a turbulent month that saw the Brazilian hand in a transfer request as he pushed for a big-money move to Barcelona.
Liverpool’s squad was released prior to the end of the Spanish transfer window, but the club remained adamant their No. 10 would not be sold.
Jon Flanagan and Lloyd Jones were also among Klopp’s 10 homegrown players, though neither are expected to feature heavily in 2017/18, particularly the latter.
Most interestingly, it remains to be seen whether Klopp will call upon Markovic this season, with the 23-year-old in theory a useful alternative to Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah out wide.
Markovic has spent muted loan spells with Fenerbahce and Sporting CP in the past two campaigns, but showed signs of promise while under Marco Silva at Hull City in the second half of 2016/17, scoring twice in 14 games.
He will at least provide Klopp with another option in attack, with Sheyi Ojo (Fulham), Ryan Kent (SC Freiburg) and Divock Origi (VfL Wolfsburg) all leaving on loan this summer.
The likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez and Dominic Solanke were not required to be included as they are under the age of 21.
Liverpool’s Premier League Squad
Goalkeepers: Mignolet, Karius, Ward*, Bogdan
Defenders: Matip, Lovren, Klavan, Jones*, Clyne*, Moreno, Robertson, Flanagan*
Midfielders: Henderson*, Can, Wijnaldum, Lallana*, Coutinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain*, Milner*
Forwards: Firmino, Mane, Salah, Sturridge*, Ings*, Markovic
Notable Youth: Alexander-Arnold, Brannagan, Brewster, Ejaria, Gomez, Grabara, Grujic, Solanke, Wilson, Woodburn
* Homegrown player.
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