Surprise Liverpool Star Left Out of Champions League Squad by Arne Slot
Liverpool have announced their 21-man squad to face Galatasaray in the Champions League and it includes a major surprise.
Liverpool began their European campaign with a 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid in their opening match of the Champions League league phase earlier this month.
They will look to make it two wins from two when they travel to face Okan Buruk's Galatasaray in Istanbul on Tuesday, returning to the city where they famously won the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan under Rafael Benitez.
Current Liverpool head coach Slot named his squad for the match on Monday and there was one notable omission.
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The Reds were expected to include forward Federico Chiesa following an injury to his compatriot Giovanni Leoni.
Leoni has been ruled out for up to a year with an ACL injury sustained in Liverpool's 2-1 win over Southampton in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
A recent change to UEFA's regulations means Liverpool are able to replace Leoni in their Champions League squad as he has suffered a 'long-term' injury.
Chiesa was initially left out of Liverpool's official squad earlier this month after they reached the maximum number of non-homegrown players. He was expected to be called up after Liverpool confirmed last week they had made an official request to UEFA.
However, he was once again left out of the squad to face Galatasaray when Liverpool announced it on Monday.
While it's not been officially confirmed if this was an intentional decision by Slot or a delay in UEFA's registration process for Chiesa, The Athletic's James Pearce says it was a tactical decision from the Dutchman.
"Understand it’s a selection decision with Chiesa, no fitness issues and he’s registered to play having replaced the injured Leoni in the Reds’ CL squad last Friday," said Pearce on Twitter.
The Italian forward came off the bench on Saturday to score in Liverpool's 2-1 defeat against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Four days earlier, he provided two assists in the 2-1 Carabao Cup third round victory over Southampton, and was named as Liverpool's player of the match.
Speaking after the game, he told reporters that this season would be 'different' after he only made six Premier League appearances across the 2024/25 campaign.
"It was really difficult [last season] but I don't think I was at level the coach wanted me to play," he said.
"I understood his choices. This year, it's different. I feel better physically and mentally. The coach has seen this and given me more opportunities."
Topics: Champions League, Galatasaray, Football, Federico Chiesa
Ryan Smart