Iraola Trusts Ekitike for Champions League, Excludes Chiesa and Endo
Andoni Iraola has made his first big Champions League call as Liverpool manager – and it is a ruthless one.
Hugo Ekitike, still working his way back from a ruptured Achilles, has been handed a place in Liverpool’s 25-man squad for the League Phase. Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo have not.
It is a decision that reveals plenty about where Iraola sees this squad heading.
A Bet on Ekitike’s Recovery
Ekitike has not kicked a ball for Liverpool since April, when his season was cut short by a serious Achilles injury. Surgery went well. The rehab has been steady rather than spectacular. The club, as recently as September 3 on their official channels, refused to put any date on his return.
Iraola has done the opposite.
By naming the France international in his Champions League list, the Basque coach has effectively ring‑fenced a place for a player who cannot yet contribute. That is a statement. Liverpool’s final League Phase fixture, at home to RC Lens on January 27, looms as the rough target. Ekitike’s inclusion strongly hints that Iraola expects him to be ready to influence that stage of the campaign.
In a competition where every squad slot is precious, Liverpool’s manager has chosen potential over certainty. A striker still in the gym over two senior outfield players.
Chiesa Left Waiting, Endo Left Behind
On the other side of the decision sit Chiesa and Endo, both watching Europe from the outside.
Chiesa’s omission can be dressed in medical terms. The Italian winger is currently sidelined, with his return to training pencilled in for after the September international break. Even so, leaving him out of the Champions League squad underlines how far he is from Iraola’s core plans for this phase of the season.
Endo’s case is starker. He is fit. He is available. He is not wanted for Europe.
The Japan international has become a cult figure at Anfield, admired for his effort and attitude, but that affection has not translated into trust from the new manager. Iraola’s choice suggests he sees other options as better suited to anchoring his midfield on the biggest stage.
With both players omitted from the European list and facing limited minutes in domestic competitions, their Liverpool futures now hang by a thread. This is not a gentle rotation. It looks like a closing door.
Carragher’s Warning Echoes Loudly
Jamie Carragher saw this coming.
Speaking on The Overlap, the former Liverpool defender did not mince his words about the pair’s prospects this season. “Liverpool have got two players in the squad who are never going to play,” he said, pointing directly to the reality of squad quotas and the squeeze on places. “They have got Chiesa and Endo. It’s like they are never going to kick a ball.
“Endo should have been moved on. He has done great, a bit of a cult hero.”
At the time, it sounded brutal. Iraola’s Champions League list has just given that verdict a hard edge.
A Clear Signal of Where Liverpool Are Headed
Champions League squads are about more than numbers. They reveal hierarchy, trust, and the manager’s long-term picture.
By backing Ekitike, Iraola has gambled on upside – a fully fit, mobile striker who can stretch defences in the new League Phase format. By cutting Chiesa and Endo, he has underlined that sentimentality will not shape his European campaign.
Anfield will see plenty of big nights between now and that Lens game in late January. The question now is whether Ekitike is the one stepping out of the tunnel by then – and whether Chiesa and Endo are even still around to watch.
