Full Breakdown
Liverpool’s Champions League Squad: Injuries, Homegrown Rules, and Tactical Choices
9/4/2026, 4:24:37 AM
Squad Composition for the League Phase
Liverpool submitted a 25-man List A for the Champions League’s league phase, meeting UEFA’s mandate that at least eight spots be filled by “locally trained” players. The roster includes goalkeeper Alisson, defenders Van Dijk, Jacquet and Araujo, midfielders Szoboszlai, Gravenberch and Mac Allister, and forwards Isak, Gakpo and Barcola, among others. The club’s opening match is scheduled for September 9 at Anfield against Atlético Madrid.
Injured Players Secured in the List
Despite ongoing recoveries, three long-term injured players were named: centre-back Giovanni Leoni, right-back Conor Bradley and striker Hugo Ekitike. Head coach Andoni Iraola indicated that Leoni could resume training during the September international break, while Bradley and Ekitike remain further from full fitness. Their inclusion satisfies the homegrown quota and preserves squad depth should they return to form later in the campaign.
Notable Omissions: Chiesa and Endo
Italian winger Federico Chiesa and Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo were excluded from List A. Chiesa, who joined from Juventus in August 2024, has struggled for minutes and missed the first two Premier League games due to a muscle injury. Endo, 33, has been an unused substitute in the opening league fixtures and was passed over in favor of 22-year-old James McConnell. Their absence reflects intense competition for midfield and attacking roles, with younger options such as Bradley Barcola, Victor Munoz, Rio Ngumoha and Cody Gakpo ahead in the pecking order.
UEFA Homegrown Requirement
UEFA rules obligate clubs to allocate a minimum of eight List A places to players trained locally. Liverpool’s selection of academy graduates—defenders Luke Chambers and Isaac Mabaya, as well as the aforementioned Leoni—ensures compliance while allowing flexibility to rotate younger List B players like Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni throughout the season.
Tactical Implications for Iraola
Iraola now has a range of options for the two midfield slots behind German international Florian Wirtz, including Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister and the emerging James McConnell. The exclusion of Chiesa and Endo, combined with the pending returns of Leoni, Bradley and Ekitike, suggests a reliance on squad depth and a willingness to rotate players as fitness improves, while still adhering to UEFA’s homegrown criteria.
