Liverpool Cuts Cult Hero, Includes Wonderkid After Isak Signing
Liverpool Removes Fan Favorite from Champions League Squad Following Alexander Isak’s Arrival
Liverpool has omitted a beloved player from their Champions League lineup due to UEFA regulations for the upcoming season.
The first fixtures of the 2025-26 Champions League campaign are set to commence after the international break. Clubs have recently announced their registered squads, but some notable players had to be left out because of UEFA restrictions. Teams are allowed a maximum of 25 players, with up to 17 non-homegrown players, and specific slots allocated for players trained within the league and by the club itself.
For instance, Tottenham opted to exclude one of their major summer signings, while Chelsea left out a player who had expressed enthusiasm about competing earlier this month.
Liverpool has named a 22-man squad—three fewer than the allowed total—leaving three spots for homegrown players unfilled. Notably, Federico Chiesa, a winger linked with a move away from Anfield last summer, has been left out of the squad. Chiesa’s playtime has been hampered by injuries and limited opportunities, and he will now miss out entirely on the Champions League this season.
Chiesa was Liverpool’s only summer arrival, but due to a lack of game time and the signing of new players like Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Hugo Ekitike, he was excluded. If Isak had not signed, Chiesa might have made the list.
A young talent, 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, has been included. The winger recently scored a winning goal against Newcastle and has appeared with the first team this season. Despite being only 17, Ngumoha joined Liverpool from Chelsea last summer and does not qualify as a homegrown player.
Liverpool, now six-time European champions, aims to improve on last season’s last-16 exit against PSG. Their campaign begins at home against Atletico Madrid on September 17, with matches against Real Madrid and Inter Milan to follow. As league champions, Liverpool is considered a strong contender to win the competition.