Chiesa and Endo Omitted from Liverpool's Champions League Squad

Liverpool have made two eye-catching omissions from their 25-man Champions League squad. Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo will both sit out the league phase in Europe, as Andoni Iraola stamps his authority on a squad still taking shape under his watch.

Chiesa’s absence jumps off the page. The Italy forward arrived from Juventus in August 2024 with the weight of a big reputation and the expectation of big nights under the Anfield lights. Those nights have barely materialised.

He has struggled to secure regular minutes since landing on Merseyside and is currently sidelined with injury, though he is expected back in training during the international break later this month. Even so, his name is missing from List A.

It is not the first time he has found himself on the outside looking in. Under former boss Arne Slot last season, Chiesa was initially left out of the Champions League group squad, only to be drafted in when Giovanni Leoni suffered a serious knee injury in September. This time, there is no late reprieve – at least not yet.

Endo’s omission tells a different story, but one with the same conclusion. The 33-year-old Japan international has been an unused substitute in both of Liverpool’s league games so far this season. Iraola has turned instead to youth, with 21-year-old James McConnell taking a place in the European squad ahead of the veteran midfielder.

Injured Trio Back in the European Picture

While Chiesa and Endo miss out, three long-term absentees have been handed a show of faith.

Defenders Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley, along with striker Hugo Ekitike, are all included in the Champions League squad despite still working their way back from serious injuries. It is a clear indication that Iraola sees them as part of his European core once they are fit.

Speaking before Friday night’s Premier League trip to Ipswich Town (20:00 BST), the Liverpool manager offered a small update on their timelines. He suggested Leoni could return to training during the September international break. Bradley and Ekitike, he admitted, remain further away from a comeback.

The message is blunt: Liverpool are prepared to wait for them.

Squad Rules and Strategic Calls

The decisions come against the backdrop of strict UEFA regulations. Clubs can register up to 25 List A players for the Champions League, with at least eight of those slots reserved for homegrown or “locally trained” players. An unlimited number of List B players – typically younger, club-trained footballers – can be added separately.

Within those limits, every name matters. Every omission carries a statement.

Chiesa, at 28 and approaching what should be his peak years, finds himself on the wrong side of the line. Endo, at 33, discovers that experience alone does not guarantee a European place in Iraola’s Liverpool.

Atletico Await Under the Anfield Lights

Liverpool open their Champions League campaign at home to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, 9 September (20:00 BST), a fixture that rarely passes quietly. Iraola will go into that game with a squad that leans on fit, trusted options and keeps a space ready for the returning injured.

Chiesa and Endo will watch those first European steps from the outside. The question now is simple: when the knock-out stages come into view, will they still be there?