Liverpool omits Chiesa, Endo from Champions League squad

Liverpool have confirmed their 25-man squad for the 2026-27 Champions League league phase, with winger Federico Chiesa and midfielder Wataru Endo omitted from the list. The squad was submitted to UEFA on September 3, ahead of the competition's start on September 8, when Liverpool will host Atletico Madrid at Anfield. The exclusion of Chiesa and Endo is attributed to UEFA's homegrown player regulations, which require clubs to reserve at least eight spots in their 25-man List A squad for locally trained players. This leaves only 17 places for non-homegrown players, forcing difficult selection decisions. Chiesa, an Italian international, and Endo, a Japanese international, both fall into the non-homegrown category. Chiesa's omission is particularly notable as he is currently sidelined with a muscle injury sustained in preseason. He has not featured in Liverpool's opening two Premier League matches. His absence from the European squad marks the second consecutive season he has been left out, though he was later drafted in last term after an injury to Giovanni Leoni.