Federico Chiesa Omitted from Liverpool's Champions League Squad
Federico Chiesa has been dealt another harsh Champions League setback, with the Liverpool winger omitted from Andoni Iraola’s squad for the upcoming league phase of the competition.
The Italian forward, signed from Juventus in a £10m initial deal, has again found himself on the outside looking in as Iraola finalised his European list. Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo has also been left out, underlining the ruthless nature of selection in a squad reshaped to compete on several fronts.
History repeats for Chiesa
For Chiesa, this is a familiar sting. He was left off Liverpool’s Champions League list last season as well, only breaking back into the European picture when compatriot Giovanni Leoni suffered a serious long-term injury. That opened a door. He squeezed through it. This time, there is no such opening.
He did at least taste the competition in a red shirt, making his Liverpool debut off the bench in a Champions League tie in Italy in September 2024. That cameo hinted at a bigger role to come. The reality has been very different. Continental minutes remain scarce. The stage he craves keeps slipping from view.
Iraola’s call and the battle for places
Iraola’s decision lays bare the scale of competition inside the Liverpool dressing room after extensive squad restructuring. Registration rules leave no room for sentiment. Every name on the list has to count. Every omission hurts.
With Liverpool fighting across domestic and international fronts, the manager has had to prioritise balance, versatility and tactical fit. Chiesa and Endo fall on the wrong side of that line this time, as the coaching staff put their faith in the remaining options to carry the load in Europe’s elite club tournament.
Domestic focus and a date with Inter
For Chiesa, the path is clear even if it is not the one he wanted. His immediate future lies in domestic competitions and on the training pitches of Kirkby, where every session becomes an argument for his inclusion next time the list is revised.
Liverpool’s calendar offers no breathing space. The club is braced for a relentless run of fixtures that builds towards a marquee Champions League clash with Inter on January 19. By then, the picture could look very different. Injuries can rip up plans. Form can flip hierarchies.
Last season, misfortune for Leoni cracked the door open. If the campaign throws up similar turbulence, will Chiesa be ready to force it wide this time?
