Chiesa and Endo Omitted from Liverpool's Champions League Squad

Liverpool have made two eye-catching calls for the Champions League league phase – and both involve big names on the outside looking in.

Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo have been left out of Andoni Iraola’s 25-man List A squad, a decision that underlines just how ruthless the competition for places has become at Anfield.

Chiesa left waiting again

For Chiesa, it is a familiar frustration. The Italy forward was initially omitted from the Champions League list last season under Arne Slot, only gaining a spot when Giovanni Leoni’s long-term knee injury opened up a place in September.

This time, there is no late reprieve. Not yet, anyway.

Chiesa, 28, is currently sidelined but expected to return to training during the international break later this month. His Liverpool career has never quite caught fire since his move from Juventus in August 2024. Minutes have been scarce, rhythm even harder to find, and now a European campaign will start without him.

The message is clear: reputation alone does not guarantee a seat on the plane.

Endo edged out by youth

Endo’s omission carries a different weight. The Japan midfielder, 33, has been an unused substitute in both of Liverpool’s league matches so far this season. Even so, his experience and versatility might have made him a natural choice for a European squad spot.

Instead, Iraola has turned to 21-year-old James McConnell.

McConnell makes the cut, a sign of the manager’s willingness to lean into youth and energy in midfield. Endo, a reliable squad figure under previous regimes, now finds himself squeezed out of the Champions League picture as the new era sharpens its edges.

Injured trio make the list

While Chiesa and Endo stay home on European nights, three players still working back from serious injuries are in.

Defenders Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley, along with striker Hugo Ekitike, have all been named in the Champions League squad despite lengthy layoffs.

Speaking before Friday’s Premier League trip to Ipswich Town (20:00 BST), Iraola said Leoni could rejoin training during the September international break. Bradley and Ekitike, he admitted, are further away from a return, but their inclusion signals Liverpool’s belief that they can still play a part in the latter stages of the group campaign.

The club have chosen to reserve spots for players they expect to lean on once fully fit, even if it means established names miss out now.

Squad rules and homegrown balance

Under Champions League regulations, clubs can register up to 25 List A players, with at least eight of those slots reserved for homegrown or “locally trained” players. There is no cap on List B, which is used for younger players meeting UEFA’s criteria.

Those rules always force difficult choices. This time, they have helped shape a squad that leans into homegrown depth and emerging talent, leaving no room for Chiesa or Endo.

Liverpool begin their Champions League campaign at Anfield against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, 9 September (20:00 BST). The lights will be on, the anthem will roar, and Iraola’s 25 will step into Europe.

Two seasoned internationals will be watching, wondering how long they will have to wait for another chance on this stage.