Liverpool’s Major Rio Ngumoha Decision Marks a New Era at Anfield | OneFootball

Should Chiesa Be In The Champions League Squad?

I’ll start with honesty, I’ve had a lot of affection for Federico Chiesa since his explosive emergence nearly a decade ago. Despite the injuries, I wanted him to succeed at Liverpool the moment he walked through the door and was delighted with the signing. The fact that he was held onto into this second season on Merseyside was justified just a few weeks ago. His cameo against Newcastle in game week two was exactly why: a goal that turned the tide and forced an unlikely 2–3 comeback win, the kind of direct, fearless play that feels tailor-made for European nights. To then see his name missing from Arne Slot’s 22-man Champions League squad feels brutal, yet almost predictable.

On paper, he has the pedigree and experience to warrant inclusion. A European champion with Italy, once one of the most devastating wide forwards in Serie A, and still only 27. Chiesa’s recall to the Italian national squad for their upcoming games shows he still has recognition at the highest level. With the World Cup on the horizon next summer, his motivation to perform is likely higher than ever.

And yet, the other side of the argument is obvious. Chiesa hasn’t consistently hit the heights he once did, with sporadic minutes only producing sporadic displays. Injuries have robbed him of some explosiveness, and while he still carries a threat, he looks more like a player who can offer moments rather than the relentless output Liverpool demands in Europe. Slot and Michael Edwards appear to have judged him as useful, but not essential, when it comes to shaping the squad for a Champions League run.

For me, that’s the painful part. I’d have loved to see him involved, even as an option from the bench. There’s something about Chiesa that screams “big night player,” and taking that away feels like a missed opportunity to rekindle the fire that once made him elite.

Why Ngumoha Makes Sense

Of course, football is rarely sentimental, essentially in a post-Klopp world. Liverpool’s decision to include Rio Ngumoha instead of Chiesa makes sense from a planning perspective, essentially when emotion is overlooked. The 17-year-old has been fast-tracked with remarkable speed, not just as a promising youngster, but as a player the club clearly sees as a potential cornerstone for the next decade.

Including Ngumoha now is about experience as much as contribution. Even if he doesn’t play a major role, simply being around the squad, training at that level, and perhaps earning minutes off the bench accelerates his growth exponentially. He’s not just filling a slot — he’s being embedded into Liverpool’s long-term culture as one of the game’s most exciting talents.

That’s the contrast with Chiesa. One represents the past, a player who may have peaked before Liverpool truly needed him, while the other represents the future, raw but brimming with limitless potential. If Slot had to choose between giving exposure to a high-earning player who may leave in January, or a teenager who could be wearing red for the next decade, the logic is obvious.

I don’t blame the club for being ruthless here. Liverpool’s resurgence under Edwards has been built on discipline and foresight, not indulging sentiment or emotion. Ngumoha’s inclusion underlines that strategy: the Champions League squad is not just about winning now, but about preparing the next cycle.

A Split Opinion

This leaves me personally conflicted, which appears in line with the curious fanbase. On the one hand, I understand and even admire the decision to back Ngumoha. It’s bold, it’s future-focused, and it avoids the trap of giving in to reputation or wage packets. In a way, it’s the kind of decision that has kept Liverpool ahead of rivals who often pay for past glories rather than invest in what’s next. Manchester United have been guilty of banking on names of stature, rather than those that can shape an identity to success.

On the other hand, I can’t help but feel for Chiesa. He’s still capable of moments, still physically suited to the Premier League grind, and still someone who can change a game with one strike, something which has been proved already this season. Slot will use him domestically, and his power against more open English defences might well prove invaluable. But European football has always felt like his stage — the spotlight, the tension, the chance to deliver in moments that matter most. To be denied that feels like a chapter left unwritten.

Ultimately, this may be the beginning of the end for Chiesa at Liverpool. His exclusion points towards a player who isn’t seen as central to Slot’s project. A January move wouldn’t surprise me, nor would a summer departure for a nominal fee. And if that happens, his Champions League omission will feel like the first signal of an exit.

So should Chiesa be in the squad? My heart says yes. My head, frustratingly, says no. Ngumoha’s inclusion represents the future, and Europe belongs to the future. As much as I admire Chiesa, the reality is Liverpool have already chosen the path forward — and it doesn’t include him under the Anfield lights on Tuesday nights.