Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp makes surprise call as he names Loris Karius Champions League keeper

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Jurgen Klopp has ensured Liverpool's return to the Champions League has another layer of scrutiny by making Loris Karius his European No 1.

Karius, who endured a difficult first 12 months on Merseyside following his £5million arrival from Mainz, will take over between the posts against Sevilla, with Simon Mignolet being given the responsibility of playing in the Premier League.

Liverpool have three goalkeepers in their first team squad and Klopp wants them all to get competitive games through the season; with Karius being the man for Europe and Mignolet in charge for the Premier League, Danny Ward is expected to start Carabao Cup matches. 

Jurgen Klopp has named Loris Karius his No 1 for Liverpool's European campaign this season

Karius has endured a difficult first 12 months at Anfield following his £5m arrival from Mainz

It is a bold move on Klopp's behalf. Karius has only played two European matches in his entire career so far, both of which came in a Europa League play-off against Greek side Asteras Tripolis in the summer of 2014; Mainz lost 3-2 on aggregate.

Klopp, though, has no concerns about putting a relative novice in goal for one of the club's biggest nights in recent years. He also insists the reasoning for going with Karius in Europe does not mean he has suddenly established a defined pecking order. 

'The situation I can say with absolute truth,' said Klopp, who will include Philippe Coutinho in his squad for the first time this season. 'If we have Simon as No1 and play the other goalkeepers not once throughout the year?

'If they train bad they don't deserve a game, but they both train really well. If we don't give them a game, then every year we have to find a No 2, who is 33 years old, still can catch a few balls and doesn't want to play anymore. That's really difficult to find someone like that.' 

Simon Mignolet being given the responsibility of playing in the Premier League.

Karius has only played once this season and he had little to do in the 4-0 drubbing of Arsenal on August 28. He was uncertain with the ball at his feet, which led to some groans from the Anfield crowd, but Klopp has huge faith in the 24-year-old.

'I prefer having a group of good goalkeepers and that means you have to change things,' said Klopp. 'The game against Arsenal was exactly the same (as this will be). It was very intense. We could have said afterwards it was not a goalkeeper game but we didn't know that before.

'Could he prove something? I think he did. He was very cool with the ball. I know for some people he was too cool with the ball but that can happen with no rhythm. Now he has had the game it has helped him a lot and us also. He will start.'

Klopp has no concerns about putting a relative novice in for one of the club's biggest games

Another man certain to start is Sadio Mane. Liverpool discovered on Tuesday afternoon that their appeal to get his three-match suspension lowered following his red card against Manchester City had been dismissed by The Football Association, a decision that never surprised Klopp.

'It was our duty to appeal but as I said after the game, it was a waste of time,' said Klopp, who will make a late decision on whether to include Mohamed Salah in his plans – the Egyptian winger was sent home from Melwood due to the effects of a virus. 'We don't moan about this.'

Sevilla will evoke memories of arguably the most disappointing night of Klopp's reign, when they lost the 2016 Europa League final to their Spanish opponents. The opportunity to make a mark in the biggest competition of all, however, is Liverpool's motivation on Wednesday night.

'It was a terrible defeat, but we took a big step,' said Klopp. 'We have changed a lot of things since the final, but it is always this way and they have also made progress. It is going to be a really interesting challenge.