Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo boast a combined total of just two minutes of action for Liverpool so far this season as exits next year look increasingly likely

The writing is very much on the wall for Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo at Liverpool. The pair had never been more than bit-part players under former head coach Arne Slot, but their involvement had dwindled even further under new boss Andoni Iraola.

The lesser-spotted pair boast just two minutes of action between them so far this season, with Chiesa the sole recipient after being introduced in the 88th minute in the 3-0 loss to Man City earlier this month following his return from injury.

He has since been left unused on the bench twice in the past week against Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea.

In contrast, Endo has watched on from the sidelines nine times without being called upon to take to the field.

After they were both left out of Iraola’s 25-man Champions League squad, with long-term injury absentee Hugo Ekitike selected at their expense, it has been clear where they find themselves in the pecking order.

A lengthy injury list has not changed their predicament in recent weeks, and to have not even been called upon in League Cup victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea only reiterates such a stance.

Iraola has instead favoured Liverpool’s academy with the likes of Lewis Koumas and Trey Nyoni picking up valuable game-time as a result. And it certainly is not undeserved, with the pair both impressing under their new head coach.

The Basque had promised that Endo ‘would have his moments’ when addressing the midfielder’s situation back in September.

"Wata lost quite a lot of the pre-season,” he said after Liverpool’s 0-0 draw with Fulham. “He is still not at his best but he is training very well.

"The problem is in front of him in his position I have a lot of players. He is competing against a lot of players.

"We are giving minutes to Trey, Ryan, Alexis and Dom, players that I am selecting right now. But Wata is definitely a player that I like and for sure he will have his moments."

Now heading into November and with such moments yet to materialise, it would take a significant injury crisis for Endo’s situation to change.

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With Chiesa also suffering an injury in pre-season, the pair are, at the very least, the victims of having to play catch-up to impress their new boss with the likes of Koumas and Nyoni grabbing their own opportunities at the expense of their more senior team-mates.

In truth, you cannot fault such a stance - especially when Liverpool’s younger players continue to deliver. They are the Reds’ future, one way or the other. Chiesa and Endo are not.

The senior pair will depart at a loss, whenever the time comes, whereas the purpose of Liverpool’s academy is to produce players who can play for the first team and/or be sold for significant profit to then help fund further signings.

In the last two years alone, Curtis Jones, Jarell Quansah, Ben Gannon-Doak, Caoimhin Kelleher, Tyler Morton, Sepp van den Berg, Fabio Carvalho and Bobby Clark are all successful examples of such a transfer strategy being put into practice and earning the club £185.5m to add to the coffers.

Nyoni and Koumas do not need to play for Liverpool for the next 10 years to justify their involvement. They have already done enough to demonstrate they will fit into either bracket in the years to come.

In contrast, Endo will certainly leave the Reds in 2027. He is out of contract next summer with the only uncertainty being whether he departs in January or sees out his deal and leaves on a free transfer.

Chiesa’s situation is a little bit more complicated. The Italy international is under contract at Anfield until 2028 and continues to be linked with a return to his homeland.

When Ekitike returns from injury, the forward will fall further down the Liverpool pecking order. A January exit would make sense if a suitable offer materialised.

Otherwise, the Reds would be in a last-chance saloon to sell Chiesa next season, where the potential to see out the final year of his contract out on loan or even mutually terminate his deal cannot be ruled out.

Former Italy international Angelo Di Livio believes Chiesa should sign for AS Roma, insisting a link-up with Gian Piero Gasperini would revitalise his fortunes and earn him an international recall as the former Juventus and Fiorentina star insisted the forward was wrong to join Liverpool in the first place.

“He made a mistake in joining Liverpool,” De Livio told Retesport. “A player who knows how to play football always knows how to do it.

“He needs to recover, but I'd take him since he can play on both flanks. With Gasperini, Chiesa would return to the national team.”

Liverpool have never seen the best of 29-year-old during his two years at Anfield, with Chiesa only returning five goals and four assists from 51 appearances for the club.

Yet, he has had little prominent opportunity after only making nine starts for the Reds, with only two of those coming in the Premier League, and no sign of that changing anytime soon.

The arrival of a new head coach often acts as a fresh start for players. But in the case of Chiesa and Endo, Iraola’s already-justified decision to turn to youth at their expense is seemingly closing the door on their Liverpool futures once and for all.

The curiosity regarding the pair is no longer regarding their lack of involvement but rather how they are still Reds players after multiple years on the fringes. If either do not depart Anfield in 2027, it would be a major surprise.