Federico Chiesa was again linked with a move away from Liverpool during the summer transfer window and has yet to feature this season after suffering a back injury in the final pre-season friendly against Como.
He was left out of Liverpool’s Champions League squad for a second consecutive season, alongside midfielder Wataru Endo.
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Andoni Iraola had included Chiesa in his pre-season plans before injury struck, with the winger remaining at Anfield despite speculation over a return to Serie A.
Chiesa said in July: “Right now, at the moment, I am happy here at Liverpool. I love the club, I love the fans, I love everything.
“I am doing the best I can to have a chance here – and then we will see. “At the minute, the only thing I am thinking about is Liverpool.”
Chiesa added: “I don’t know – it is difficult to say. It is always a fresh start at the beginning of the year. “Maybe there have been too many fresh starts.
“But I don’t care, I am trying to do my best for this new manager. Last season under Arne Slot, I was trying to do my best too.
“Last year, I felt ready for a bigger role, then it depended on the coach whether he wanted me to play or not. Of course I wanted to play more but it is what it is.
“The gaffer decided to do so, he had his gameplans, he took his decisions, I have nothing to say about that. It is football. This year, let us say it is a new chapter. There is a new manager and I have to focus on that.”
Chiesa started just one Premier League game last season as he remained on the periphery under Arne Slot. He finished the 2025-26 campaign with three goals and three assists in 36 appearances across all competitions and was eventually included in Liverpool’s Champions League squad for the knockout stages.
The 28-year-old has also lost his place in the Italy squad since joining Liverpool, with his last international appearance coming at Euro 2024.
Iraola has strengthened his attacking options with the arrivals of Bradley Barcola and Victor Munoz. Chiesa is one of the few Reds players who can naturally operate on the right wing following Mohamed Salah’s departure, but it remains to be seen how regularly he features.
According to the Daily Mail, Chiesa is targeting a late-September return to training after being sidelined with a muscle problem.
Chiesa’s future could be influenced by Liverpool’s transfer plans, with the club still keen to add further depth to Iraola’s squad in January.
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