Liverpool have named their 22-man squad for the league phase of this season’s UEFA Champions League, with one notable surprise omission in attack.
UEFA rules allow teams to register up to 25 players, but eight of those must be homegrown.
That restriction meant that Arne Slot could only select 17 non-homegrown players for the league phase roster.
Who missed out on the Reds’ UCL Squad?
Unsurprisingly, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and marquee summer signings Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz have all made the cut.
But there was one shock exclusion, with Italian forward Federico Chiesa having been left out of Liverpool's European squad.
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Chiesa was Liverpool’s hero in their Premier League opener against Bournemouth, scoring late on to help the Reds complete a comeback win.
His omission underlines the selection dilemma that Slot will have to contend with this season following Liverpool’s impressive summer spending spree.
British record signing Isak has made the cut, as have new arrivals Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Giovanni Leoni and Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Youngster Rio Ngumoha has also been included, with UEFA rules preventing him from being registered in the Reds' youth squad as he only joined Liverpool in 2024.
The 17-year-old already caught the eye with his dramatic 100th-minute winner against Newcastle United last week, and his inclusion serves as a big sign of the trust Slot has in him.
Squad depth and challenges ahead
The Reds’ squad boasts impressive depth this season.
Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson form the backbone of a defense bolstered Kerkez, Frimpong and Leoni.
In midfield, Wirtz will be joined by Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch, among others.
But it’s the frontline where Slot perhaps faced his toughest selection headache, with Chiesa the odd man out despite his recent heroics and European pedigree.
Even so, the Italian is still expected to play an important role in Liverpool’s domestic campaign, likely seeing plenty of game time in the Premier League, FA Cup and EFL Cup.
The Reds open their Champions League campaign at Anfield against Atletico Madrid on September 17.
A daunting league phase then awaits as they take on against Galatasaray, Eintracht Frankfurt, Real Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, Inter Milan, Marseille and Qarabag.
Liverpool full Champions League squad: Alisson Becker, Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike, Wataru Endo, Jeremie Frimpong, Cody Gakpo, Joe Gomez, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexander Isak, Curtis Jones, Milos Kerkez, Ibrahima Konate, Giovanni Leoni, Alexis Mac Allister, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Rio Ngumoha, Andrew Robertson, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Virgil van Dijk, Florian Wirtz, Freddie Woodman.
Liverpool news and related links
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- Ex-Liverpool goalkeeper gives verdict on how ‘vulnerable’ Reds can improve this season
- Liverpool star Mohamed Salah tips shock rivals for Premier League crown