Liverpool have submitted their 25-man squad for the Champions League‘s league phase, with Wataru Endo and Federico Chiesa left out and Hugo Ekitike included.
Endo and Chiesa are the casualties after Liverpool were forced to cut two senior players from their Champions League squad this week.
Though Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni are eligible as U21s in the Premier League, the same does not apply in Europe as they have not been with the club long enough.
It means the two centre-backs have taken Endo and Chiesa’s places in the 25-man group for this season’s league phase, restricting the experienced pair to league and cup action.
Ekitike and Bradley expected to play in Champions League
CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool's Conor Bradley walks out to watch the second half during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. Leeds won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool's Conor Bradley walks out to watch the second half during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. Leeds won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Andoni Iraola has also included Ekitike and Conor Bradley in a positive sign over their recovery from injury.
Liverpool are confident their long-term injuries will be resolved in time to play a part in the latter stages of the league phase, which concludes in January.
In order to name a full 25-man squad of senior players, a minimum of eight ‘locally trained’ players must be registered, including a maximum of four ‘association trained’.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 30, 2026: Liverpool's Isaac Mabaya during the Premier League 2 match between Liverpool FC Under-21's and Leeds United FC Under-21's at the Liverpool Academy. Liverpool won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 30, 2026: Liverpool's Isaac Mabaya during the Premier League 2 match between Liverpool FC Under-21's and Leeds United FC Under-21's at the Liverpool Academy. Liverpool won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
That has led to opportunities for academy full-backs Luke Chambers and Isaac Mabaya, with Freddie Woodman, Vitezslav Jaros, Joe Gomez, Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley and James McConnell filling the rest of the quota.
Rio Ngumoha, Trey Nyoni, Lewis Koumas and Jayden Danns are among those who do not need to be registered as part of the initial senior squad.
They will instead be named among an unlimited number of players on List B, as U21s who have been at Liverpool for a sufficient period.
Andoni Iraola, Head Coach of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on August 25, 2026 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Nikki Dyer/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola, Head Coach of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on August 25, 2026 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Nikki Dyer/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool host Atletico Madrid in their Champions League opener on Wednesday night, before further meetings with LASK (Oct 14), Villarreal (Oct 20), Fenerbahce (Nov 4), Club Brugge (Nov 25), Porto (Dec 9), Inter Milan (Jan 19) and Lens (Jan 27).
Neither Mor Talla Ndiaye or Will Wright will be eligible for the Champions League this season, but the likes of Josh Abe, Wellity Lucky and Josh Sonni-Lambie could be considered if required.
However, Liverpool will also enter an U19s squad into the UEFA Youth League ahead of league phase clashes with Atletico, LASK, Villarreal, Fenerbahce, Club Brugge and Porto.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool players during the moment of applause in memory of Kevin Keegan, who passed away in July after his battle with stage four cancer, before the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool players during the moment of applause in memory of Kevin Keegan, who passed away in July after his battle with stage four cancer, before the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Mamardashvili, Woodman*, Jaros*
Defenders: Van Dijk, Araujo, Jacquet, Leoni, Gomez*, Bradley*, Frimpong*, Kerkez, Tsimikas, Chambers*, Mabaya*
Midfielders: Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, McConnell*
Forwards: Isak, Barcola, Ekitike, Gakpo, Munoz
* Locally trained
Notable List B players: Nyoni, Ngumoha, Koumas, Danns
original this is anfield sign FI
original this is anfield sign FI
Football – FA Premier League – Newcastle United FC v Liverpool FC
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker and captain Virgil van Dijk line-up before the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Football – Pre-Season Friendly – Liverpool FC v Como 1907
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's players form a pre-match huddle before a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)