Team News: Thiago Alcantara returns to Liverpool XI, Luis Diaz on bench

Thiago Alcantara is back in the first XI for Liverpool's Champions League last-16 second leg with Inter Milan, but Luis Diaz only makes the bench.

The Spaniard picked up a hamstring problem before the EFL Cup final win over Chelsea but returned to full training earlier this week and has been passed fit to return to the starting lineup.

Thiago joins Fabinho and Curtis Jones in the Liverpool engine room, with Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita both on the bench as Jurgen Klopp rotates his resources.

Joel Matip has also recovered from illness in time to partner Virgil van Dijk in the heart of defence, as Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold occupy the full-back areas.

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are set to start out wide for the Reds, with Diogo Jota returning to lead the line as Diaz accepts a place among the substitutes.

Despite returning to full training, Roberto Firmino is not included in the squad for the second leg, and Ibrahima Konate is also absent.

Liverpool starting lineup: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Thiago, Fabinho, Jones; Mane, Jota, Salah

Substitutes: Adrian, Kelleher, Milner, Keita, Gomez, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Minamino, Tsimikas, Diaz, Origi, Elliott