Liverpool could have to make do without Federico Chiesa for Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth, with Arne Slot rating him as “50/50” to feature.
The Reds are back in Premier League action this weekend, heading to the south coast for a potential tricky clash with the Cherries.
For Liverpool, there are injury problems to overcome at the moment, including long-term absentees Alexander Isak and Giovanni Leoni, and Chiesa missed Wednesday’s 3-0 win away to Marseille in the Champions League, getting injured in the warm-up.
Speaking in his pre-Bournemouth press conference, Slot said that the Italian is only “50/50” to be available for the weekend game.
“He wasn’t able to be on the bench on Wednesday. There was a recovery session yesterday – it’s difficult to say if he’s available for Bournemouth. Maybe 50-50.
“Nobody picked up a knock or problem after the game, so I expect all the same players to be available.”
How many more games will Chiesa play for Liverpool?
With all due respect to Chiesa, there are more influential players that Liverpool could be without, with the 28-year-old very much a fringe player under Slot since arriving in the summer of 2024.
That’s despite Reds captain Virgil van Dijk heaping praise on him earlier in the season, having scored a vital late goal at home to Bournemouth:
“Fede is an amazing character, he works so hard and has been unlucky with injuries but we are all here for him and we all know what kind of impact he could have. He’s a great character and we all love him, I think everyone can see that, and he’s loved by the fans, and to produce moments like he has [against Bournemouth] is something we all want to see.”
It feels increasingly likely that Chiesa will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, ensuring the Premier League champions receive a free for him, with a return to Juventus possibly on the cards.
It may even be that he only plays a handful more games for the Reds, demanding on his availability and Slot’s use of him, and the hope is that he pops up with a few more big moments between now and May.