Despite his relatively strong start to the season in terms of goal contributions, Federico Chiesa has struggled to earn regular starts under manager Arne Slot at Liverpool. He has only accumulated 344 minutes of game time across 12 appearances, with Arne Slot showing little inclination to start him in the Premier League. This trend is consistent with last season, where Chiesa played only 466 minutes in the Premier League.
Chiesa's limited minutes come despite positive individual performances. He was even named Liverpool's Player of the Month in September, having scored twice and assisted three goals. He acknowledged the high competition at Liverpool, telling Daily Mail Sport: "If I don’t want competition, I go to another team. But I want the competition! I want to play here and think it helps me become a better player."
However, the reports suggest that this desire for competition is being overshadowed by a lack of consistent starting opportunities, which could impact his standing with the national team, especially with Gattuso's clear preference for his return to Italy.