Liverpool takes on Sparta Prague in the first leg of its last-16 tie on Thursday night and UEFA rules have allowed Jürgen Klopp to change his squad

Jürgen Klopp has been able to tweak his squad ahead of the first leg with Sparta Prague
Liverpool faces a crunch week in its quest for the quadruple with Manchester City on the horizon after Thursday night’s Europa League clash with Sparta Prague.

The Reds remain favorites to win the competition but must first see off the Czech champions in the last 16.

Jürgen Klopp’s side has made the trip out to Prague and has been boosted by the return of Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian initially picked up an injury while away at the Africa Cup of Nations but featured off the bench at Brentford last month before aggravating the problem.

He has missed the last four matches but should play some part against Sparta Prague before Sunday’s showdown with City. He is joined in the squad by Darwin Núñez and Dominik Szoboszlai after their own injury problems.

But Klopp remains without 10 players for the first leg, including Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota and Ryan Gravenberch. Those players will hope Liverpool remains in Europe for when they return, with the squad for the knockout stages having already been finalized.

But amid the injury crisis, Liverpool has now made two late additions to its squad for the remainder of the competition, reports the Liverpool ECHO. UEFA rules allow clubs to make additions to its ‘List B’ of Under-21 players, providing the updates are submitted at least 24 hours before a match kicks off.

Due to a shortage of options in midfield, Klopp has drafted in 20-year-old Mateusz Musialowski. The youngster was named in the travelling party for Prague despite not initially being in the Europa League squad. He is yet to make his senior debut after arriving from UKS SMS Łódź in 2020.

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Musialowski’s contract expires at the end of the season and he looked set to leave Anfield for TSV Hartberg in Austria last summer. That move failed to materialize but he has been hailed by Under-21s boss Barry Lewtas for his performances since. “He’s been brilliant. This season, in terms of his level of consistency, without question it has risen,” Lewtas told the Liverpool ECHO.

According to Football Insider, the youngster was also on Leeds United’s radar in January and the Championship side could reignite its interest if he does not extend his Anfield deal. Fellow youngster Jayden Danns has also been drafted into the Europa League squad after his rise to the first team.

The 18-year-old only made his debut a matter of weeks ago against Luton before impressing off the bench in the Carabao Cup final and scoring against Southampton. Danns has not travelled to Prague though after suffering concussion in the win over Nottingham Forest last weekend.

Liverpool.com says: Klopp has had no issue with playing his youngsters this season and they haven’t let him down at any stage. With the injury situation as it is, it makes sense to add as many as options as he can and Musialowski will be keen to impress. Danns meanwhile looks set to be among the first team for the remainder of the season after his impressive cameos off the bench.