Why Federico Chiesa has been brutally left out of Liverpool's Champions League squad in setback after decision to snub transfer away from Anfield

The 27-year-old Italy international is the only major snub from the list, in what will come as a major blow for Chiesa as he looks to move on from a challenging first season at Anfield. The issue surrounds the number of English and former academy players in the squad, with only 17 non-homegrown players permitted in the squad submitted for the new-look league phase of the competition.

The reality is that Liverpool have a lack of players considered 'homegrown' in their current squad and Chiesa was the unfortunate man to miss out as a result. With a 25-man group permitted, the Reds in fact only submitted a list of 22 players as their non-homegrown quota was already filled. The player to take what was likely to be the final place in the squad ahead of Chiesa was 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, who is not considered homegrown as he only signed for Liverpool last year.

Chiesa scored a late winner in the opening Premier League fixture of the season against Bournemouth and also played a role in Ngumoha's 100th-minute clinching goal at Newcastle United. His impressive start to the season was hoped to be the start of a career rejuvenation under Arne Slot, but this Champions League snub could ultimately be a return to reality. Considering the fact that the Italian rejected the chance to depart Anfield over the summer amid reports of a return to Serie A, the exclusion may be all the more bitter a pill to swallow.

Chiesa will no doubt continue in his quest to win over the Liverpool head coach and earn a more regular spot in the Reds side. His loss of the opportunity for Champions League minutes will be a blow, though. It remains to be seen whether the former Juventus star will do enough to convince Slot to change his mind when finalising his squad for the knockout stages later on in the season, should they progress.