Festive lift for Reds? Ekitike makes Liverpool’s UCL list despite Achilles rupture, Endo and Chiesa omitted | OneFootball

Hugo Ekitike has been included in Liverpool's Champions League squad for the 2026/27 league phase with optimism he can feature.

Ekitike has been sidelined since sustaining an Achilles tendon rupture during their Champions League quarter-final loss to Paris St-Germain in April. The injury ruled Ekitike out of the 2026 World Cup and was expected to sideline the French forward until the new year.

However, Ekitike's inclusion in theChampions League squad offers an optimistic view that he can feature before the end of the league phase.

Liverpool start theirChampions League campaign against Atletico Madrid next week, the first of eight league-phase fixtures. Just two of those games, against Inter Milan and Lens, come after the turn of the new year.

Liverpool have opted to include Ekitike in the squad, with Wataru Endo and Federico Chiesa excluded. There is understood to be optimism at Anfield that Ekitike could return for the festive period.

Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are also in the squad as the pair also continue recoveries from long-term injuries. Youngsters including Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha do not need to be named in the official squad as they can be named on List B given their age.

Liverpool’s 25-man Champions League league phase squad:

Alisson, Mamardashvili, Woodman, Jaros; Gomez, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez, Bradley, Leoni, Tsimikas, Frimpong, Araujo, Chambers, Mabaya; Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Munoz, Gravenberch, McConnell; Isak, Gakpo, Ekitike, Barcola.