UEFA officially confirm Champions League rule change affecting Liverpool
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.
Image Credits: Imago ImagesLiverpool’s Champions League campaign is just around the corner with a clash vs Atletico Madrid this coming Wednesday.
Arne Slot surprised many by submitting just 22 names for their UEFA Champions League List A, leaving three slots vacant rather than filling them to the 25-player maximum.
UEFA regulations stipulate that each List A may include up to 25 players, but clubs can name only 17 non-homegrown players; the remaining eight must have been trained at the club or within the same national association.
The Reds have omitted three players from their List A squad because they have reached the maximum allowance of 17 non-homegrown players.
Rio Ngumoha, despite being under 21, did not qualify for List B – the supplementary list for young talents – because he has not completed three uninterrupted years at the club.
List B entrants must be born after 1 January 2004 and have spent at least three years at the same club since their 15th birthday, criteria Ngumoha cannot yet meet.
Consequently, he occupies one of the 17 non-homegrown slots on List A.
It was then Federico Chiesa who missed out on a spot, with the Italian being omitted from the Champions League squad.
Arne Slot said of the decision in his pre-Burnley press conference:
“Of course it was tough for a manager, it is difficult for him.
Of course he wasn’t happy with that decision but he understood the argument.”
“He gave the answer you want to hear from a player and he will be there to help in the other cups and the league?
He worked really hard in these days to be ready for the upcoming games, which is even more important than what a player tells you.”
However, it appears that UEFA have made a new ruling that could allow Chiesa to play in the Champions League after all.
A statement from the governing body read:
“The Executive Committee approved an amendment to the 2025/26 UEFA men’s club competitions’ regulations to admit the temporary replacement of a maximum of one outfield player with long-term injury or illness during the league phase until matchday 6 included.
“The reasoning for the adaptation is to ensure that squad lists are not unfairly reduced and players are safeguarded from additional workload pressure.”
While there are no major injuries in the squad at the moment, there is no doubt that Arne Slot will appreciate this rule change.
And for the likes of Chiesa, he may yet be able to play in Europe this term depending on whether other players get injuries.
READ MORE: Alexander Isak fitness update ahead of Burnley clash
Want to get the latest Liverpool news direct to your phone