Liverpool drop £14M & £22M rated players from UCL squad - both expected to leave next summer

Liverpool have revealed their squad for the Champions League this year, but have left out two senior midfielders - does this mean their futures are in doubt?

The Reds have had issues with injuries this season, especially in midfield, which resulted in the club deciding to move for Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo on deadline day to secure a loan move for the experienced midfielder.

Despite the fact that Naby Keita (£22.5M) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (£14.4M) will return within the next month or two, both have been left out of Liverpool's UEFA Champions League squad.

With the club happy to leave them out, does this spell the end for the duo as Liverpool players?

Dropped from UCL squad

Both players have been seemingly dropped from the UCL squad because of injuries.

According to Sky Sports, the club doesn't believe that the pair will be able to feature much before the season halts for the World Cup in November.

Keita has been struggling with a 'muscle injury' which has reportedly needed specialist assessment whilst Chamberlain has been dealing with a hamstring injury which was suffered back in July, at the start of the pre-season.

17-year-old midfielder Stefan Bajcetic, who impressed in pre-season, has taken his place in the squad thanks to their absence, with new loan signing Arthur Melo also in the squad.

It's a big blow for the pair, but they can be re-instated into the squad in January if needed.

They should be, but it would have to be at the expense of Bajcetic and one other player. It could mean that the Reds are looking towards next summer when both could depart the club. James Milner's contract is also up too.

Could they both leave?

Given Keita's contract expires next summer, there is a real chance he could leave the club as the club does not look in any rush to complete a deal for the 27-year-old anytime soon. Injuries have been the main story of his time at the club and after four years, perhaps it's time to cut their losses.

With Fabio Carvalho starting the season in good form, as well as Harvey Elliott, the game time for Keita would have been reduced anyway. The struggle for form and fitness may seem him move on in the summer - with his former club RB Leipzig interested earlier this summer.

Chamberlain has also fallen down the pecking order at the club and even further since his absence through injury. His deal also expires next summer and as he's already considered a fringe player, it may be time to also let him leave. West Ham were interested in the summer window before his injury.

We might only be a few games into the new season but Liverpool's midfield could look very different at the start of next season, given that these two players could easily be playing their football elsewhere.