The UEFA Squad List Doesn't Lie

Numbers on a submission sheet cut through press conference noise faster than a mid-block press. On Friday, Liverpool submitted their 25-man squad to UEFA, and the omissions spoke louder than any tactical bulletin.

Both Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo were stripped of their European credentials for the first half of the season. As Mirror Football reported, neither player will take the pitch against Atletico Madrid in Wednesday night's Champions League clash at Anfield.

Instead, Andoni Iraola prioritized long-term injury casualties over healthy senior options. Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley, and Hugo Ekitike all made the cut despite being ruled out until later this year.

Even 21-year-old midfielder James McConnell secured a registration spot ahead of both senior internationals. McConnell has not logged a single competitive first-team minute since the 2024/25 campaign.

That is not a minor squad rotation decision. It is an outright structural rejection of two senior squad members by a manager setting high physical standards.

Carragher's Assessment Hits the Mark

Speaking on The Overlap, Jamie Carragher pulled no punches about what this squad registration means for the pair moving forward.

blockquote>"Liverpool have got two players in the squad who are never going to play. And there are all these quotas, you can only have 17 players and all that. They have got Chiesa and Endo. It's like they are never going to kick a ball."

Carragher's frustration reflects a cold mathematical reality under UEFA regulations. European squad rules strictly cap non-locally trained players at 17 players.

When a manager willingly burns quota spots on injured rehab prospects rather than available seniors, the message is unmistakable. Iraola has effectively demoted both players in his tactical hierarchy.

Carragher singled out the Japanese international for specific criticism regarding transfer window timing and long-term roster planning.

blockquote>"Endo should have been moved on. He has done great, a bit of a cult hero."

Why Iraola's System Expelled Endo and Chiesa

Iraola's tactical blueprint demands immediate counter-pressing triggers and rapid lateral coverage across the central third. His central midfielders must swallow territory in transition, forcing hurried turnovers inside five seconds of losing possession.

Endo brought undeniable grit during his debut year, but his physical profile limits Iraola's aggressive rest-defense. An ankle injury restricted Endo to just 12 appearances across all competitions last season.

When speed of thought must match speed of foot, Endo struggles to turn defensively under pressure. He remains stuck on the bench as an unused substitute for Liverpool's opening two Premier League matches of the new campaign.

Chiesa presents a completely different tactical mismatch for Iraola's wing demands.

The Italian winger registered 36 appearances last season, but his production yielded just 3 goals while functioning primarily as a second-half substitute.

A nagging back injury sidelined Chiesa for Liverpool's first two matches this season. But even when fully fit, Chiesa lacks the relentless defensive work-rate required by Iraola's wide pressers.

Iraola expects his wide forwards to sprint back into compact defensive blocks and double up on opposing full-backs. Chiesa thrives on isolated 1v1 duels in open space, not grueling defensive tracking along the touchline.

Liverpool's Squad Depth Gamble Is a Flawed Strategy

Here is the uncomfortable truth: Liverpool made a clear management blunder by keeping both players past the summer deadline.

Carrying high wages for players explicitly locked out of European competition creates unnecessary dressing room friction. It restricts squad flexibility while burning valuable non-homegrown quota allowances.

If an injury wave strikes the midfield before January, Iraola will be forced to deploy players he clearly does not trust. That is a dangerous gamble for a club competing for top honors on multiple fronts.

Holding onto Endo out of sentimentality cost Liverpool a decent transfer fee during the window. Now, his market value will plummet while sitting in the stands at Anfield.

Similarly, taking a punt on Chiesa without a clear tactical fit has backfired on the recruitment department. He is marooned between fitness recovery and tactical displacement.

Recruitment teams cannot afford to store squad places like museum exhibits. When a tactical transition occurs under a new manager, swift roster shedding is mandatory.

Portman Road vs Atletico Madrid: The Roadmap Ahead

Domestically, the fixture calendar offers a brief window for domestic rotation. As detailed in Jamie Carragher's recent analysis, Endo could feature when Liverpool travel to face Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Friday night.

Chiesa may also earn sporadic domestic cup minutes once his back issue resolves. But Premier League bench appearances are merely window dressing at this point in their Anfield careers.

The real indicator of Iraola's tactical vision arrives on Wednesday night against Atletico Madrid. Diego Simeone brings physical mid-blocks and aggressive set-piece routines to Anfield for an 8pm kick-off.

Iraola needs every player in his matchday squad ready to execute intense pressing traps against European heavyweights. Leaving Endo and Chiesa out proves Iraola views them as tactical liabilities against elite opposition.

The Bold Call: January Exits Are Inevitable

Let us commit to the outcome instead of hiding behind vague squad rotation excuses. Endo and Chiesa are living on borrowed time at Anfield.

Expect Endo to make no more than two Premier League starts before the winter window opens in January. Iraola will rely on younger, more dynamic profiles like James McConnell to maintain midfield pacing.

Chiesa will be restricted to domestic cup minutes and late league appearances. His role will diminish further once Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley return from injury later this year.

My prediction is absolute: both players will leave Liverpool during the January 2027 transfer window. Endo will return to Germany or seek a starting role elsewhere, while Chiesa will head back to Serie A on loan.

Iraola is building a lean, hyper-aggressive machine that leaves zero room for passenger profiles. Carragher saw the writing on the wall, and the UEFA squad submission confirmed it beyond doubt.

Failing to integrate high-profile summer signings or seasoned veterans signals a shift toward uncompromising pragmatic management. Iraola will sink or swim by his tactical principles.

The era of sentimentality at Anfield is dead. Iraola has drawn his tactical line, and Endo and Chiesa are on the wrong side of it.