Jamie Carragher questions Liverpool decision over Wataru Endo

Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool should have allowed Wataru Endo to leave during the summer transfer window after the midfielder was omitted from Andoni Iraola’s Champions League squad.

Endo and Federico Chiesa were the two notable exclusions as Iraola named his 25-man squad for the league phase of the competition.

Liverpool have undergone significant changes this summer, with Jeremy Jacquet, Victor Munoz and Bradley Barcola among the new arrivals. Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate have all moved on.

Despite Giovanni Leoni, Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley currently dealing with long-term injuries, all three were included in the European squad ahead of Endo and Chiesa.

Carragher believes the decision highlights just how far Endo has fallen down the pecking order at Anfield.

“Liverpool have got two players in the squad who are never going to play,” Carragher said on The Overlap.

“They have got Chiesa and Endo. It's like they are never going to kick a ball.”

The former Liverpool defender went further when discussing Endo, arguing that the club should have found a solution for him before the transfer window closed.

“Endo should have been moved on,” he said. “He has done great, a bit of a cult hero.”

Endo has yet to feature since Iraola took charge and was an unused substitute in Liverpool’s Premier League draws against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.

The Japan international made only 12 appearances last season as injuries and competition for places restricted his opportunities.

He originally arrived at Anfield in 2023 during Jurgen Klopp’s reign but has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter.

His omission from the Champions League squad now provides another clear indication that significant first-team opportunities could be difficult to find.

Federico Chiesa finds himself in much the same position.

The Italian made only five starts last season and has missed the beginning of the new campaign through injury. After struggling for opportunities under Arne Slot, his prospects do not appear to have improved significantly following Iraola’s arrival.

Both players remain eligible to feature in the Premier League, but domestic cup competitions could provide their most realistic route to regular minutes.

Liverpool’s Champions League selections were complicated by UEFA squad restrictions, including the limit on non-homegrown players.

Carragher believes that made retaining players unlikely to feature regularly particularly questionable.

Endo and Chiesa now face a difficult period until the transfer market reopens, with both needing to force their way into Iraola’s domestic plans despite being left out of Liverpool’s European campaign.

Endo and Chiesa will now have to compete for opportunities in Liverpool’s domestic fixtures, with cup matches potentially offering their clearest route back into the side.

If their situations remain unchanged, their futures could become a significant talking point when the January transfer window opens.