Andoni Iraola may have to leave three players out of Liverpool's matchday squad for the match against Manchester City on October 11, as their availability remains uncertain
Federico Chiesa is trying to impress the new Liverpool boss, Andoni Iraola
Federico Chiesa is trying to impress the new Liverpool boss, Andoni Iraola(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool may not boast the largest squad, but it hasn't escaped attention that it remains sufficiently deep for Andoni Iraola to omit several players from the Reds' previous two fixtures.
Virgil van Dijk and Florian Wirtz were rested entirely, alongside Kostas Tsimikas, when Liverpool welcomed Tottenham in the Carabao Cup earlier this month. Subsequently, when the Reds resumed Premier League duties away at Bournemouth, Wataru Endo was absent from the matchday squad, together with youngsters James McConnell and Luke Chambers.
The Japanese midfielder's omission was hardly unexpected, considering he has yet to feature this season and was excluded from the Reds' 25-man Champions League squad alongside Federico Chiesa.
However, the emergence of Lewis Koumas in Iraola's first-team setup has seen the Wales international occupy a bench spot that might previously have been earmarked for Endo.
Iraola may face the prospect of excluding additional senior players when Liverpool resumes action against Manchester City on Sunday, October 11, with the Basque coach confirming earlier this month that Giovanni Leoni and Chiesa were progressing toward rejoining team training during the international break.
"I think the next one probably should be Giovanni Leoni," Iraola confirmed earlier this month. "I think the plan is also to start training during the break, with the group. I think even Fede should be around those dates."
Chiesa is currently nursing an injury
Chiesa is currently nursing an injury(Image: Getty Images)
Iraola has used 25 different players across his matchday squads in his opening seven fixtures as Liverpool manager, with him able to select a 20-man squad for domestic fixtures and a 23-man squad for the Champions League.
Of that number, 21 have featured on the pitch, with Endo, Chambers, Jayden Danns and Freddie Woodman the sole selected players yet to receive any minutes.
While Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Vitezslav Jaros remain sidelined with long-term injuries, the imminent returns of Leoni and Chiesa are poised to bolster Iraola's options.
Whether the duo will be sufficiently fit to feature in the Liverpool matchday squad against Manchester City remains uncertain. Nevertheless, they are edging closer to their comebacks.
Once they do return, the battle for inclusion in the Reds matchday squad will intensify further.
Endo was omitted against Bournemouth, alongside several peripheral youngsters and third-choice goalkeeper Woodman.
In reality, Chiesa could find himself in similar company should he suffer the same fate as Endo, having already been excluded from Liverpool's 25-man Champions League squad.
However, Leoni's impending return will result in at least one additional senior player being left out as Iraola begins to assess his expanding roster.