Confirmed Liverpool lineup vs. Swansea City: Sturridge starts in youthful side

Jurgen Klopp made eight changes to his side for Liverpool’s away clash with Swansea City, with Daniel Sturridge starting in attack.

Klopp left a host of first-team players on Merseyside, with one eye on next week’s Europa League semi-final second leg at home to Villarreal.

Alberto Moreno, Kolo Toure, Joe Allen, James Milner and Roberto Firmino all sat out, while Jon Flanagan remained in Liverpool as he continues to build up his fitness.

One player to travel, however, was Sturridge, who was left on the bench for Thursday night’s 1-0 draw in the first leg in Villarreal but returns to start up front in a much-changed lineup.

Danny Ward makes his second start for the Reds in goal, taking Simon Mignolet‘s spot behind a makeshift back four.

With Connor Randall ruled out with a virus, Nathaniel Clyne continues at right-back, with Martin Skrtel captaining the side alongside Dejan Lovren at the heart of defence.

Left-back Brad Smith is among six academy players to start in Liverpool’s youngest side of the campaign, with Kevin Stewart and Pedro Chirivella taking up roles in the midfield.

Flanking Philippe Coutinho in the No. 10 role, Jordon Ibe and Sheyi Ojo will provide support for Sturridge in what is likely a 4-2-3-1 formation.

With Randall unavailable, Klopp has named just six substitutes in Simon Mignolet, Lucas Leiva, Cameron Brannagan, Joao Carlos Teixeira, Adam Lallana and Christian Benteke.

Swansea City: Fabianski; Rangel, Williams, Amat, Taylor; Britton, Cork; Montero, Sigurdsson, Routledge; Ayew

Substitutes: Nordfeldt, Naughton, Fernandez, Fulton, Ki, Barrow, Gomis

Liverpool: Ward; Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Smith; Stewart, Chirivella; Ibe, Coutinho, Ojo; Sturridge

Substitutes: Mignolet, Lucas, Brannagan, Teixeira, Lallana, Benteke