Joel Matip and Fabinho miss Liverpool Club World Cup campaign

Joel Matip and Fabinho will miss Liverpool’s FIFA Club World Cup campaign in Qatar through injury.

Matip last featured for the Premier League leaders in a 1-1 draw against Manchester United in October and had been expected to be back in action by now. Manager Jurgen Klopp said on Tuesday Matip's injury is not healing as well as the club had hoped.

Liverpool have named a 23-man squad for the tournament and have included teenagers Harvey Elliot, Rhian Brewster, Neco Williams and Curtis Jones in their travelling party.

The quartet were expected to play in Liverpool's Sky Live Carabao Cup quarter-final against Aston Villa, which takes place the day before their Club World Cup opener.

Liverpool can call up replacements up to 24 hours before their first game if any player pulls out due to injury.

The European champions enter the competition at the semi-final stage and play matches on Wednesday, December 18 and Saturday, December 21 as they bid to win the tournament for the first time in their history.

Both of Liverpool's matches will take place at the new Education City Stadium on the outskirts of the capital Doha. The stadium is one of 12 that will be used when Qatar hosts the FIFA World Cup in 2022.