Endo and Chiesa Axed as Liverpool Lock In Champions League 25

Two big calls from Andoni Iraola as Liverpool’s Champions League 25 is confirmed — Wataru Endo and Federico Chiesa are out. It’s a ruthless note to strike before a ball’s even been kicked in Europe, but the manager’s hand has clearly been forced by UEFA’s homegrown quotas.

Homegrown rules bite — and Iraola blinks first

Champions League registration demands eight locally trained players, and that’s where the squeeze has been felt. According to The Athletic’s James Pearce, both Endo and Chiesa have missed the cut, with Iraola prioritising balance, versatility and those homegrown slots. Chiesa is nursing an issue, yes, but the real eyebrow-raiser is Endo — fit enough to make the Premier League bench against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, yet not among the chosen 25 here.

Injured trio make it — a pragmatic gamble

In a move that tells you everything about the longer view, the injured trio of Giovanni Leoni, Connor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike are included. That’s a calculated roll of the dice: protect the squad shape now, and bank on minutes later in the campaign when knockout football bites and depth wins ties.

Young guns available via the B list

Don’t panic about the starlets. Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni aren’t on the main list due to age regulations, but they remain eligible to feature via the youth registration pathway. Expect them to hover around matchday squads if injuries pile up or fixtures stack.

How Liverpool line up on paper

Goalkeepers: Alisson; Giorgi Mamardashvili; Freddie Woodman; Vitezslav Jaros.

Defence: Joe Gomez; Virgil van Dijk; Jacquet; Milos Kerkez; Connor Bradley; Giovanni Leoni; Kostas Tsimikas; Jeremie Frimpong; Ronald Araújo; Chambers; Isaac Mabaya.

Midfield: Florian Wirtz; Dominik Szoboszlai; Alexis Mac Allister; Muñoz; Ryan Gravenberch; James McConnell.

Attack: Alexander Isak; Cody Gakpo; Hugo Ekitike; Bradley Barcola.

Fixture drumbeat starts now

The campaign kicks off at Anfield next week against Atletico Madrid — never an easy dance partner — before a trip to LASK. Then it’s a steady procession of European tests: Villarreal, Fenerbahce, Club Brugge, Porto, Inter and Lens are all on the docket. For those fancying a flutter on how Liverpool handle that gauntlet, check our best betting sites before the odds start to shorten.

Transfer undertone and selection politics

There’s fresh murmuring that Liverpool should revisit a move for Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr — fuel for the wide options if injuries linger. But in the here and now, the headline is simple: Endo and Chiesa miss out, not for lack of quality, but because the arithmetic of UEFA registration can be unforgiving. Iraola’s message? Horses for courses, and Champions League squads are puzzles as much as pecking orders.

It’s a bold, borderline brutal set of calls from the head coach. If Liverpool come flying out of the blocks against Atletico, nobody will bat an eyelid. If they stutter, expect the omissions to become a talking point as loud as the Kop itself.