Liverpool Football Club has unveiled its roster for the upcoming Champions League season, with a significant announcement regarding the exclusion of prominent players Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo from the 25-man squad. This strategic decision by manager Andoni Iraola has sparked considerable discussion among fans and analysts alike, especially given the importance of the European competition.
Liverpool's Champions League Squad: Key Exclusions and Anticipated Returns
On Thursday, September 3, 2026, Liverpool confirmed its 25-player lineup for the Champions League group stage, making headlines with the omission of two key figures: Italian forward Federico Chiesa and Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo. Chiesa, 28, who transferred to Liverpool from Juventus in August 2024, is currently sidelined due to an injury. While his return to training is anticipated later this month during the international break, his previous exclusion from the squad last season under former manager Arne Slot, only to be added later due to a teammate's injury, adds a layer of intrigue to this decision. Meanwhile, 33-year-old Endo has been an unused substitute in Liverpool's initial two league matches this season, and his absence from the Champions League roster is particularly noteworthy, especially as 21-year-old James McConnell secured a spot. Despite their current recovery phases, defenders Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley, along with striker Hugo Ekitike, have been included in the squad, indicating confidence in their imminent returns to full fitness. Manager Iraola, in his pre-match press conference for the Premier League game against Ipswich Town, mentioned that Leoni might rejoin training during the September international break, while Bradley and Ekitike's comebacks are expected to take slightly longer. Liverpool is set to commence its Champions League journey with a home fixture against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, September 9, at 20:00 BST.
The exclusion of players like Chiesa and Endo from Liverpool's Champions League squad underscores the competitive nature of top-tier football and the complex decisions managers face. It highlights the delicate balance between player fitness, tactical considerations, and squad composition rules for major tournaments. This scenario offers a glimpse into the strategic depth and challenges that elite football clubs navigate, constantly weighing immediate performance against long-term player development and injury management. Such decisions, while often met with scrutiny, are integral to shaping a team's potential for success on the grand European stage.
