Iraola Supports Ekitike in Champions League Strategy as Chiesa and Endo Omitted

Andoni Iraola has nailed his colours to the mast in Europe – and Hugo Ekitike is right at the centre of the plan.

Liverpool’s head coach has named the French striker in his 25-man Champions League squad, a bold call given Ekitike has not played since rupturing his Achilles tendon in April. The 22-year-old underwent surgery and has been in rehabilitation ever since, with the club publicly refusing to put any date on his return.

Even so, Iraola has made his bet.

Liverpool’s final League Phase fixture comes against RC Lens at Anfield on January 27. Ekitike’s inclusion strongly hints that Iraola expects – or at least demands – that the forward will be ready to contribute by then, turning a long-term injury doubt into a potential late‑group wildcard.

The club’s official update on September 3 confirmed there is no set timeframe for Ekitike’s comeback, but the manager has clearly decided the upside is worth a valuable squad slot in Europe.

Chiesa Left Out Despite Imminent Return

That faith in Ekitike comes at a cost for others.

Federico Chiesa has been omitted from the Champions League squad, despite being on the verge of returning to training after the September international break. The Italian winger is currently sidelined, but his absence from the list is a pointed decision rather than a medical necessity.

Chiesa arrived with pedigree and expectation. Now he finds himself watching Europe from the outside, his path at Anfield suddenly clouded.

Endo Frozen Out

Wataru Endo’s situation is even starker.

The Japan international is fully fit, training, and available. Iraola has still chosen to leave him out. That choice underlines what many around the club have suspected: Endo is no longer central to the manager’s plans.

With no Champions League place and limited prospects in domestic competitions, both Endo and Chiesa face a bleak short-term future at Liverpool. Minutes will be scarce. Their roles, at best, look peripheral.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher had already sounded the alarm. Speaking on The Overlap, he claimed: “Liverpool have got two players in the squad who are never going to play… They have got Chiesa and Endo. It’s like they are never going to kick a ball. Endo should have been moved on. He has done great, a bit of a cult hero.”

Iraola’s European list now appears to echo that blunt assessment.

So the picture is clear. Ekitike, still on the comeback trail, is being kept close and trusted for the Champions League. Chiesa and Endo are not.

The question now is simple: when the knockout race heats up in January, will Iraola’s faith in an injured striker look visionary – or reckless?