Players could still join Liverpool's Champions League squad after Federico Chiesa dropped

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Liverpool is poised to alter its Champions League squad ahead of its inaugural match against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

Arne Slot made waves earlier this month when he omitted Federico Chiesa from the Reds' 22-man squad for the league stage of the competition.

Instead, the Dutchman chose to include Rio Ngumoha over the Italian, with the youngster needing to occupy one of Liverpool's 17 overseas slots to be eligible for selection, despite being English and only 17 years old, due to UEFA rules. This is because he doesn't yet qualify for a homegrown spot or a place on List B under UEFA squad regulations, as he only joined the club as a 15-year-old from Chelsea last summer.

A player can be registered on List B if he was born on or after 1 January 2004 and has been eligible to play for the club in question for an uninterrupted period of two years since his 15th birthday, or a total of three consecutive years with a maximum of one loan period to a club from the same association for a period not exceeding one year.

Players aged 16 may be submitted if they have been registered with the club for the previous two years without interruption.

Had a deadline day move for Marc Guehi not fallen through, Liverpool would likely have included Chiesa in its ranks alongside summer signing Giovanni Leoni - who is also not yet eligible for a place on List B after signing from Parma this summer – instead of the man left out.

Alexander Isak and Trey Nyoni of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre

Alexander Isak and Trey Nyoni of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre

However, with Slot requiring an additional center-back option after missing out on the England international, he made the tough call to exclude Chiesa. Clubs have the right to register an unlimited number of players on List B throughout the season.

Liverpool's allocation of List B players is due to be announced on Wednesday, with clubs required to submit a list to UEFA no later than 24:00 CET the day before a match.

While Ngumoha and Leoni may not qualify for a spot on List B, the Reds do have several young players who are eligible and can represent them in this season's Champions League if chosen.

Trey Nyoni and Jayden Danns both participated in open training with Slot's squad on Tuesday and are eligible for selection on List B.

Similarly, Stefan Bajcetic could also be added to List B - although the Spaniard is still recovering from hamstring surgery over the summer.

In other news, Luke Chambers, Calum Scanlon, Kaide Gordon, Trent Kone-Doherty and Amara Nallo have all previously played for the Liverpool first team and would be eligible for inclusion on List B.

Meanwhile, following a last-minute UEFA rule amendment, Slot would be allowed to make one temporary change to his Champions League squad during the league phase in response to long-term injury or illness.

Consequently, if one of Liverpool's 17 foreign players were to sustain a long-term injury or illness prior to the club's sixth Champions League group stage match against Inter Milan on 9 December, Slot would have the option to temporarily draft in Chiesa as a replacement.

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