Coutinho awaits 1st club outing of season on Liverpool bench

Philippe Coutinho could make his first competitive appearance for Liverpool this season in Wednesday's Champions League visit from Sevilla.

The Brazilian was out of commission at Liverpool while his employer fended off summer bids from Barcelona for his services, but now returns to the senior setup on a bench which includes newcomers Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Andy Robertson.

(Courtesy: @LFC)

Loris Karius is also entrusted with goalkeeping duties, indicating that his surprise start in the 4-0 battering of Arsenal on Aug. 27 was used as a test of the German's confidence and quality following a difficult initiation into English football last season.

Usual first-choice shot-stopper Simon Mignolet was beaten five times in a harrowing defeat at Manchester City on Saturday, so he, along with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ragnar Klavan, are dropped.

The midweek match is the Reds' first Champions League test since a shameful 2014-15 elimination in a group featuring Real Madrid, FC Basel, and Ludogorets. Eight players in the matchday squad will remember their last meeting with Sevilla, though, when the Andalusian side won 3-1 in the Europa League final in May 2016.