Federico Chiesa’s Liverpool career has taken another hit after he was omitted from their UEFA Champions League squad.
The Reds have submitted their 25-man squad for Europe’s elite club competition which begins on Tuesday.
Liverpool begin their quest for an seventh European Cup when they face Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday night.
However, Chiesa will play no part in the tournament after new boss Andoni Iraola chose to not include him for their European campaign. Wataru Endo is another.
Chiesa has missed the Merseyside outfit’s’ first two Premier League games of the season due to a muscle injury but when fit will find himself further down their pecking order following the summer signings of fellow forwards Bradley Barcola and Victor Munoz.
And it is a case of deja-vu for Chiesa, who suffered the same fate from Iraola’s predecessor Arne Slot. However, Chiesa was later called-up for their 25-man squad after centre back Giovanni Leoni tore his anterior cruciate ligament.
Leoni is one of three Liverpool players currently out injured though that have been selected by Iraola – with Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike completing the trio.
Federico Chiesa has been omitted from Liverpool’s 25-man squad for the Champions League
Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola (left) has selected Hugo Ekitike though despite his achilles injury
Leoni is set to return to training later this month after nearly a year out, Bradley has been out of action since suffering a knee injury in January and Ekitike has been sidelined since tearing his achilles in April.
The inclusion of the injured trio gives Liverpool fans encouragement that they will be involved before the conclusion of the league phase on January 27, 2027.
Endo, who like Chiesa has not featured in the opening two matches of the season, has been omitted with James McConnell, 22, preferred among the midfielders.
Fellow academy graduates Luke Chambers and Isaac Mabaya are named among 11 defenders on the list.
Under UEFA rules, the 25 players named in List A has to include a minimum of eight ‘locally trained’ squad members. Youngsters such as Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni aren’t among them as they can be named on List B given their age. That won’t change until they turn 21.
