Federico Chiesa Omitted from Liverpool's Champions League Squad
Federico Chiesa has been dealt another brutal Champions League setback, with the Italian winger left out of Liverpool’s squad for the upcoming league phase.
Manager Andoni Iraola has chosen to omit Chiesa from his European list, alongside Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo, as he trimmed his group to meet registration rules. For a player who arrived on Merseyside with expectations of becoming a big-game force, it is a jarring reality check.
A Familiar Snub
For Chiesa, this is not a new story. The disappointment mirrors last season, when he was also excluded from the initial Champions League squad. Back then, he only forced his way back into the European picture after compatriot Giovanni Leoni suffered a serious long-term injury, opening a slot in the group.
He did at least taste the competition in a Liverpool shirt. The former Juventus forward made his debut for the club off the bench in a Champions League tie in Italy in September 2024, shortly after his £10m move. Yet those minutes have not translated into a sustained role on the continental stage. The door has closed again.
Ruthless Competition Under Iraola
Iraola’s call underlines how ruthless the battle for places has become at Anfield. Liverpool have undergone heavy squad restructuring, and the dressing room is crowded with attacking options all jostling for the same few European spots.
With the club stretched across domestic and international fronts, the manager has had to balance positions, homegrown quotas and tactical needs. Chiesa and Endo are the high-profile casualties of that calculation, as the coaching staff put their faith in the remaining depth to carry them through Europe’s toughest club competition.
Domestic Stage or Bust
For now, Chiesa’s route back into the Champions League is blocked. His immediate task is clear: dominate training, impose himself in domestic competitions and make it impossible for Iraola to ignore him when the next registration window comes around.
Liverpool’s calendar leaves no room to hide. A relentless run of fixtures lies ahead, building towards a marquee showdown with Inter on January 19. That date will sting for Chiesa: a glamour tie against Italian giants, and he can only watch from the outside.
Last season, an injury twist reopened the door and dragged him back into the European frame. If the campaign takes a similar turn, will he be ready to seize the moment this time, or will another chance slip through his fingers?
