Federico Chiesa's future at Liverpool has taken an unexpected turn as he was omitted from the club's Champions League squad for the 2025/26 season. This decision by manager Arne Slot has raised eyebrows, especially considering that Chiesa remained at Anfield this summer despite widespread expectations of a departure.

Liverpool confirmed their 22-man squad for the Champions League group stage, with Chiesa's name notably absent. The club was limited in the number of non-homegrown players they could include in their 'List A' squad, with only 17 slots available. This meant that Slot had to make some tough choices, and Chiesa was the unfortunate player to be axed, while players like Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo were included.

UEFA rules stipulate that a minimum of eight places in the 25-man squad must be reserved for "locally trained players," defined as those who spent three years in an English academy between the ages of 15 and 21. If a club has fewer than eight locally trained players, the maximum number of players on List A is reduced accordingly. Liverpool also submitted a separate 'List B' for academy players born after January 1, 2004, who have been with the club since their 15th birthday, including Trey Nyoni and Jayden Danns.

Despite being left out of the Champions League squad, there's a possibility for Chiesa to be included in the knockout stage squad if Liverpool progresses. The Reds are set to face Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, and Qarabag in the 36-team league phase and will also travel to Galatasaray, Eintracht Frankfurt, Inter Milan, and Marseille.

Chiesa's omission comes after a somewhat underwhelming first season at Liverpool, following his £12.5 million move from Juventus. Although he won the Premier League title with the Reds, he struggled to find consistent form and playing time, making only 14 appearances and scoring two goals with two assists. However, he did score a late goal against Bournemouth in the opening game of the 2025/26 season.

Despite his limited game time, Chiesa has become a popular figure at Anfield. He further cemented his cult hero status by scoring a late goal in the 4-2 win over Bournemouth on the opening day of the current season.

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso recently spoke about Chiesa, revealing that the player declined a call-up for international duty because "he did not feel ready to return, he wants to be 100 percent". Gattuso added that it was a joint decision, suggesting that Chiesa is focused on regaining full fitness and form.

Throughout the summer transfer window, there was speculation about Chiesa's future, with several Serie A clubs, including AC Milan, Napoli, Atalanta, and AS Roma, reportedly interested in signing him. Liverpool even rejected a swap deal from AC Milan that would have seen Chiesa leave in exchange for Rafael Leao. AS Roma also held talks to sign Chiesa, but his high wage demands reportedly posed a problem. Ultimately, Chiesa remained at Liverpool, ready to fight for his place in the team.

Liverpool's decision to exclude Chiesa from the Champions League squad may be a strategic one, aimed at managing the squad size and ensuring that homegrown players are given opportunities. It could also be a reflection of Slot's assessment of Chiesa's current form and fitness levels.