Has the ship already sailed? Will it occur to Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa?
A forgotten man final season, the Italian winger has as soon as once more been moderately unfortunate this week, failing to make use of Mohamed Salah’s state of affairs to his benefit.
Certainly, even when the Egyptian was unable to participate within the journey to San Siro, Chiesa was unable to pounce on the potential emptiness on the precise flank, as he was pressured to overlook the match in opposition to Inter Milan attributable to sickness.
Midway by his second season at Anfield, the previous Juventus man, who was signed for a whopping £13 million, stays confined to the periphery, making simply 29 appearances in all competitions.
Exceptional moments such because the decisive ‘win’ in opposition to Bournemouth on the opening day have seen the 28-year-old safe cult hero standing on Merseyside, however the jury is out on whether or not he can actually emerge from the shadows.
Newest data on Federico Chiesa’s future
The truth is, the Reds achieved Premier League glory final season with out being affected by a brand new contract, however Chiesa, the one senior signing of the summer season, was restricted to simply six league appearances all season.
Church – PL Information | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (*per recreation) | 24/25 | 25/26 |
recreation | 6 | 10 |
begins | 1 | 0 |
the aim | 0 | 2 |
help | 0 | 1 |
missed a giant alternative | 1 | 1 |
A giant alternative has arisen | 0 | 1 |
Key move* | 0.3 | 0.1 |
Go accuracy* | 93% | 74% |
Dribbling success* | 0 | 0.1 |
Lack of possession* | 2.2 | 3.7 |
Statistics by Sofascore | ||
Though he was typically neglected within the slot within the 2024/25 season, this time his elevated affect has stored his place within the attacking pecking order, with all 10 of his appearances within the prime flight coming off the bench.
Chiesa, who was the one who stepped in to cease Wilson Isidore from signing a possible winner for Sunderland some time in the past, has the need to do effectively, particularly with choices not essentially plentiful within the vast.
That stated, whereas Slott is downplaying the previous Fiorentina star, it seems he has different concepts, together with the winger’s restricted recreation time, with current stories suggesting a January departure remains to be being mentioned.
The Athletic stories that the Euro 2020 hero is alleged to have “many followers” because the winter season approaches, however can also be stated to pose a possible “threat” if Liverpool let him depart, given Liverpool’s relative lack of attacking choices.
Nonetheless, there have been stories final month that Chiesa’s agent was in talks over a attainable transfer, with hopes of forcing his return to Italy’s plans forward of March’s World Cup qualifiers, and Chiesa himself might wish to press forward with a transfer if his outcomes don’t enhance.
Given his lack of kind over the previous 18 months, it is no surprise he desires to depart, and Liverpool will most likely replicate on the knowledge of creating such a deal.
Nonetheless, Chiesa shouldn’t be the one one in that division…
Liverpool’s meaningless contracts are from the Rodgers period
As harsh as it might be, given Chiesa’s minimal impression, one must conclude that the signing of Chiesa was largely pointless, with Slott having little need to cede a daily function to the injury-hit ahead.
Rightly or wrongly, the phrase that involves thoughts with regards to this summer season’s hottest participant, Alexander Isak, could also be “pointless.” After a disappointing efficiency, the Swede is prone to be in a foul temper once more in opposition to Inter.
With simply 25 touches, the one shot heading in the right direction and 68 minutes to go, the ex-Newcastle United man’s excuses for not collaborating in pre-season are beginning to put on off and he was once more largely on the sidelines as the sport unfolded on the San Siro.
The 26-year-old, who scored simply two targets in all competitions for his new membership following his controversial transfer from St James’ Park, is already in catastrophe territory and Slott and co want radical enchancment for 2026.
Depth is required, however on condition that they’ve already plucked Newcastle goal Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, there’s a sense that this was a extremely essential transfer for FSG.
Whereas Isak has struggled, the younger Frenchman has been in a blinding kind, already scoring eight targets in simply 22 appearances, confirming his perception that he needs to be the beginning striker.
As for Liverpool’s precise No. 9, Isak appears to be following within the footsteps of the notable switch failures of the Brendan Rodgers period, reflecting a post-Luis Suarez world the place the likes of Ricky Lambert, Mario Balotelli and Christian Benteke have been comfy playing around at Anfield.
The summer season of 2014 was significantly dangerous after Rodgers’ near-miss at successful the title, with the centre-forward pair of Lambert and Balotelli finally managing to attain simply seven targets throughout their unforgettable brief keep on Merseyside.
Maybe a greater comparability is Benteke, who was signed a 12 months later and, like Newcastle’s Isak, the Belgian has seemed prolific within the Premier League for Aston Villa, scoring 49 targets in 101 video games for the Midlands facet.
Solely 10 of 42 comply with Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp.
It might be too early to fireside Isak and throw him into the trio of disastrous Rodgers contracts simply but, however on present proof he appears just like the Benteke of 2015.
I hope Ekitike can grow to be Roberto Firmino…
Fewer touches than Alisson, simply 10 passes: Liverpool must flop
Liverpool received again to successful methods in Italy, nevertheless it wasn’t all constructive for Arne Slott.
