Liverpool left Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo out of its Champions League roster this week, despite long-term injuries for Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley, who were included
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola speaks with Federico Chiesa on the Anfield touchline.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola speaks with Federico Chiesa on the Anfield touchline.(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Liverpool's 2-0 win at Ipswich marked the first victory under Andoni Iraola, but also the start of the next phase of the season: from here, it is pretty much a game a week.
Next midweek, the Champions League begins with the visit of Atletico Madrid. A week after that, Tottenham will come to Anfield in the Carabao Cup. Assuming Liverpool progresses in both domestic cups as and when they arrive, there won't be much time for a collective catching of breath.
For that reason, Liverpool will need as many options available as it can. Except, in the Champions League at least, two are set to be ineligible having been left out.
Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo have not been selected by Iraola, while Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley, who may not be involved until 2027, have been. It is a pretty clear message about where the pair find themselves in the pecking order.
Chiesa, for his part, made clear immediately that he wanted to stay and fight for a spot at Liverpool when Iraola arrived. He repeated the same message a couple of times during the summer, and then his father did the same in the final throes of the window.
Endo, likewise, has made it clear on several occasions that he is happy enough with his role. In the last two years, it has been very minimal, to say the least, but the 33-year-old, who is out of contract next summer, has never kicked up a fuss.
Jamie Carragher made the point this week that the duo is "never going to kick a ball," and "there are all these quotas, you can only have 17 (non-homegrown) players." Both, though, are under contract, and so can't really be moved on unless they want to be.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.(Image: Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)
Arne Slot drew a lot of criticism, quite unfairly, for overlooking certain members of his Liverpool roster last term. Calvin Ramsay, who is now on loan at St Mirren, was one some fans wanted to see more of.
Chiesa and Endo were two others whose names cropped up a few times; some felt they could have been used more often when bigger Liverpool stars were underperforming.
Ultimately, though, neither has proven in their combined five seasons at Liverpool that they are at the required level, stylistically suited to the way that the head coach wants to play, or even physically capable of playing 90 minutes regularly.
In the case of Chiesa, especially, the winger has frequently missed games because of injury. He is set to be out until the September international break, with the latest, and he lacks the required speed and acceleration to excel in the Premier League regardless.
As for Endo, he might be useful at times as a makeshift center-back in some games, but he is clearly not viewed as someone with the necessary skills in possession to do what Slot wanted — and now what Iraola wants — from that role.
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Low-risk and low-cost signings though they were, the pair have done little in the way of even providing cover during their time at Anfield to date, which is why a policy where such additions are limited is wise.
Liverpool has unquestionably left itself light in multiple areas this summer, right-back being one of them. But signing someone who was ultimately not good enough would only leave a repeat of the Chiesa and Endo situations further down the line.
That is why a move for Ronald Araujo on loan was a savvy deal. If it works, Liverpool can opt to sign him permanently. If not, he will head back to Barcelona, and there is nothing lost.
Chiesa and Endo serve as a reminder, though, of why a long-term approach in the transfer market is a necessity, and why snapping up short-term depth isn't as straightforward as it sometimes seems.