Federico Chiesa is yet to start in the Premier League or Champions League this season, but Liverpool’s mounting availability crisis means he can – and should – no longer be ignored.
“The good thing is that we have a week to go so hopefully we have enough players available to play next week again.”
Arne Slot laughed out his final statement after running through new setbacks for Alexander Isak and Conor Bradley when speaking to BBC Sport after Saturday’s win at Tottenham.
But there was certainly an element of truth behind Liverpool’s struggle for numbers: it was not only Isak and Bradley who they lost in that 2-1 victory, but also Dominik Szoboszlai.
Szoboszlai’s yellow card for responding to Richarlison’s petulance after scoring late on means the Reds’ standout player is banned for the visit of Wolves on December 27.
With Mohamed Salah also missing while he represents Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations and Cody Gakpo still sidelined along with Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo and long-term absentees Giovanni Leoni, Stefan Bajcetic and Jayden Danns, Liverpool are facing a crisis.
Liverpool’s bench vs. Tottenham
Name Position LFC Apps
Giorgi Mamardashvili Goalkeeper 10
Wellity Lucky Centre-Back 1
Jeremie Frimpong Right-Back 10
Calvin Ramsay Right-Back 3
Andy Robertson Left-Back 360
Trey Nyoni Central Midfield 9
Federico Chiesa Right Winger 31
Rio Ngumoha Left Winger 9
Alexander Isak Centre-Forward 16
Having named 19-year-old Wellity Lucky on the bench at Tottenham along with Calvin Ramsay, Rio Ngumoha and new Premier League debutant Trey Nyoni, the likelihood is that more academy players will be required after Christmas.
That could mean an opportunity for midfielder Tommy Pilling and forward Kieran Morrison, who both trained with the senior squad in the week.
But more so, it should mean there is no longer an opportunity to ignore the quality, experience and versatility Chiesa provides at a crucial period.
Chiesa’s latest role: A sub-of-a-sub-of-a-sub
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 22, 2025: Liverpool substitutes Andy Robertson (L) and Federico Chiesa prepare to come on during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. Forest won 3-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Chiesa pulled further clear as Slot’s most-used substitute this season when he came off the bench on Saturday – but did so in circumstances which hardly befit a player of his reputation.
A sub-of-a-sub-of-a-sub. The No. 14 replaced Jeremie Frimpong for the nine minutes of stoppage time allotted; Frimpong having already come on for Isak who had taken over from Bradley at half-time.
That only came due to Frimpong’s extended time on the ground after busting his lip, with it a tactical decision to avoid losing the Dutchman at a point when Liverpool needed all hands to the pump in defending their lead.
“I didn’t want to go down to 10 men for 30 seconds,” Slot explained in his post-match press conference.
“I think this is the only country where if players are injured they need to go off for 30 seconds, with a head injury [it is] even 45, so I adapted to that.
“I knew there wasn’t long to play and I thought we struggled a lot with our plus-one, so playing 10-v-10 for half a minute with him being on the floor, yes or no, then we just go with Federico.”
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 30, 2025: Liverpool's substitute Federico Chiesa during the pre-match warm-up before the FA Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Liverpool FC at the London Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Put simply, Chiesa was the most reliable body left: Lucky and Ramsay are entirely untested at Premier League level and Ngumoha is largely unproven in such situations.
It is hardly a glowing testament for a player who has won the Euros with Italy and played 272 times across Serie A, the Premier League and the Champions League.
But it certainly sums up the position Chiesa has found himself in under Slot, with the Mail‘s Lewis Steele reminding only days previous how one performance against Plymouth in the FA Cup last season left the head coach furious with his No. 14.
“He was one of the senior players on that day and a few people have said how frustrated Slot was,” Steele explained in a live Q&A, “and that set Chiesa back somewhat.”
Where Chiesa stands in Liverpool’s crisis of availability
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 31, 2025: Liverpool's Federico Chiesa during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 1-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Chiesa has faced his own struggles for fitness since his initial £10 million move from Juventus in 2024, but it would not be fair to attribute his uphill battle for prominence this season to a lack of pre-season almost 18 months ago.
He has already shown he is capable of dominating games in English football – and at the very least contribute as effectively or more as many of those who have been regulars for Liverpool this season.
There were those late goals against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, his assist for Gakpo in the dismal 2-1 loss to Man United in October and the two he set up for Hugo Ekitike in the Carabao Cup win over Southampton in September.
And what about the goal-saving block to deny Wilson Isidor from scoring what would have been a winner for Sunderland in this month’s 1-1 draw at Anfield?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 22, 2025: Liverpool's substitute Federico Chiesa during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. Forest won 3-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
At times it has seemed there is nothing Chiesa can do to improve his chances under Slot; for whatever reason, the head coach appears to have simply made his mind up on what he can offer and that is not in a starting role.
But Liverpool are now dealt a crisis of availability.
With Szoboszlai suspended for the Wolves game and Salah kicking off his time at AFCON, Slot’s next-in-line on the right flank would almost certainly be Frimpong.
However Frimpong, if fit enough, will need to start at right-back with Gomez and Szoboszlai out and Bradley expected to miss out too.
Isak is facing a long spell on the sidelines and Slot has already ruled Gakpo out until January, meaning Liverpool’s only senior forward options are: Ekitike, Ngumoha, Florian Wirtz and Chiesa.
Why Chiesa has to start for Liverpool vs. Wolves
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, October 19, 2025: Liverpool's Federico Chiesa during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester United FC at Anfield. Man Utd won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Whether he opts for a three-man attack or reverts to his 4-4-2 diamond system with two centre-forwards, it will surely be impossible for Slot to overlook Chiesa as a starter against Wolves at the very least.
There is clearly an argument that this is long-deserved for the 28-year-old, who is one of the most popular, committed players in the squad despite rarely being afforded the game time he deserves.
And while there are reservations among those in the dugout, there is little evidence to suggest that, if he is called upon, Chiesa would let Liverpool down.