Jon Flanagan makes his first start in 20 months after returning from a troublesome knee injury asLiverpool host Stoke City in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final. 

The 23-year-old slots in at right-back for Nathaniel Clyne, who is not in the matchday squad after receiving a knock in training. Flanagan got 39 minutes in the 3-0 FA Cup third-round replay win over Exeter City last week and was on the bench for Saturday’s 5-4 draw with Norwich. 

The full run-out against Mark Hughes’ men represents his first since the final Premier League game of the 2013-14 season against Newcastle.

Adam Lallana, who came on and changed the game at Carrow Road with an assist and the winner, is back in the starting 11 with Jordon Ibe dropping to the bench as Jurgen Klopp targets reaching his first final as Liverpool manager.

Dejan Lovren has overcome the hamstring injury he picked up in the reverse fixture and returns to the bench.
LIVERPOOL: Mignolet, Flanagan, Toure, Sakho, Moreno, Lucas, Can, Milner, Henderson, Lallana, Firmino

SUBS: Ward, Lovren, Smith, Teixeira, Allen, Ibe, Benteke 

STOKE CITY: Butland; Johnson, Wollscheid, Muniesa, Pieters; Whelan, Afellay; Walters, Bojan, Arnautovic; Crouch.

SUBS: Haugaard; Bardsley, Joselu, Wilson, Van Ginkel, Adam, Shaqiri