Liverpool were required to register Rio Ngumoha to their senior squad for the Champions League despite the winger only turning 17 at the end of August.
UEFA confirmed Liverpool’s 22-man squad for the league phase of this season’s Champions League on Wednesday, with Federico Chiesa a surprise absentee.
The Italian has been used regularly in the opening games of the new campaign but will play no part in the clashes with Atletico Madrid, Galatasaray, Eintracht Frankfurt, Real Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, Inter Milan, Marseille and Qarabag.
His omission comes with 17-year-old Ngumoha and 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni taking senior spots in Liverpool’s squad for the tournament (ie. List A).
That is despite an unlimited number of players aged 21 or under being eligible for inclusion for any Champions League fixture.
Unfortunately, neither Ngumoha or Leoni qualify for List B as under-21s as they have not been at Liverpool for a sufficient period.
UEFA rules state: “A player may be registered on List B if he is born on or after January 1, 2004 and has, since his 15th birthday, been eligible to play for the club concerned for any uninterrupted period of two years 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 longer than one year.”
It means Ngumoha will be eligible for List B from next season, having joined Liverpool from Chelsea in September 2024, while Leoni can be registered as an under-21 player from the 2027/28 campaign.
Goalkeeper Armin Pecsi has been left out and will instead only be eligible for the UEFA Youth League.
Liverpool faced the same issue last season with both Trey Nyoni and centre-back Amara Nallo, but both are now able to be included on List B.
This is also the final season in which Stefan Bajcetic will be eligible for List B as the Spaniard turns 21 in October.
UEFA will confirm the players Liverpool have added to List B ahead of the opening league phase clash with Atletico Madrid on September 17.
Last season, Slot added a total of 24 youngsters to his available selection on the eve of their opening game against AC Milan and 10 of those went on to be involved in the tournament in some capacity.
Jayden Danns is among those who will likely be called up at times in the league phase, with the 19-year-old chief among those on the fringes of the senior squad.