Liverpool Champions League Squad: Chiesa and Endo Omitted
Liverpool’s first Champions League squad under Andoni Iraola has its headline: Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo are out.
The Italian forward and the Japan midfielder have both been left off the 25-man List A for the league phase, a decision that underlines how sharply the competition for places has hardened at Anfield.
Chiesa Left Watching Again
For Chiesa, it is a familiar kind of frustration. He was initially omitted from the Champions League squad last season under Arne Slot, only to be drafted in when Giovanni Leoni suffered a serious knee injury 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 upcoming international break. Even when fit, though, he has not been able to nail down a regular place since arriving from Juventus in August 2024. The move promised a fresh start; instead, he finds himself on the outside of Europe’s biggest stage looking in.
Endo Overlooked as McConnell Steps Up
Endo’s omission is another clear marker of where Iraola wants to take this squad.
The 33-year-old has not played a minute of league football this season, used only as an unused substitute in Liverpool’s opening two Premier League games. Experience has not been enough to sway the manager this time, with 21-year-old James McConnell preferred for the Champions League list.
McConnell’s inclusion is a nod to youth and energy in the middle of the pitch. For Endo, it raises a blunt question about his role in this new era.
Injured Trio Back in the Picture
While Chiesa and Endo miss out, three long-term absentees do make the cut.
Defenders Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley, along with striker Hugo Ekitike, are all named in the Champions League squad despite ongoing recoveries from serious injuries.
Speaking before Friday night’s Premier League meeting with Ipswich Town (20:00 BST), Iraola offered a small update on their timelines. Leoni, he said, could be back in training during the September international break. Bradley and Ekitike, though, are still some distance from a return to full action.
Liverpool are clearly planning ahead. When those players are ready, Iraola wants them available for Europe.
Atletico Test Looms
There is no gentle introduction to this campaign. Liverpool open their Champions League season at Anfield against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, 9 September (20:00 BST), a fixture that rarely allows for half-measures or rusty legs.
The selection calls for Europe are shaped not just by form and fitness but by regulation. Clubs can register up to 25 players on List A, with at least eight of those slots reserved for homegrown or “locally trained” players. An unlimited number of List B players, typically younger squad members, can also be added if they meet UEFA’s criteria.
Within those constraints, Iraola has made his first big European statement as Liverpool manager. Established internationals are out. A young midfielder is in. Injured pillars are being kept close.
When the anthem hits and Atletico walk out at Anfield, the question will be simple: has he chosen the right 25 for a season that will not forgive many mistakes?
