Arne Slot reflects on Federico Chiesa's lack of game time at Liverpool, insisting the Italy international is good enough to make the grade at Anfield
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Federico Chiesa of Liverpool in conversation with Arne Slot during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD8 match between PSV Eindhoven and Liverpool FC at PSV Stadion
Federico Chiesa of Liverpool in conversation with Arne Slot during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD8 match between PSV Eindhoven and Liverpool FC at PSV Stadion
(Image: 2025 Rene Nijhuis/MB Media)
Arne Slot insists Federico Chiesa is good enough to eventually make the grade at Liverpool and believes the Italy international has simply been unlucky at Anfield because of the quality of the players currently ahead of him.
Chiesa joined the Reds Juventus in a deal worth up to £12m in August but has started just three games all season, the most recent of which came in February's FA Cup defeat to Plymouth Argyle, and the former Juve forward was left out entirely of last week's 2-2 draw with Arsenal.
Slot said after winning the Premier League last month that the remaining four games would be about getting a better look at some players whose minutes had previously been marginalised but Chiesa has featured for just eight minutes since, coming on a late substitute as the new champions chased the game in the 3-1 loss to Chelsea.
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Despite featuring for just 392 minutes across the entire campaign, Slot thinks Chiesa is good enough to be a success on Merseyside, admitting he has deserved more time on the pitch this term.
“In terms of the quality he has he would deserve more playing time at this football club or the club he is playing for as he has the quality to play for us," Slot said.
"But unfortunately for him he is in competition with Mo Salah when it is about the right wing but I think he can also play as a left-winger, but he has Cody Gakpo and Lucho Diaz.
"I don't think I am wrong if I tell you these three have had a great season and for him starting one or two or maybe three-nil down because the moment he came in he was, by a long time, not as fit as the other payers were and that doesn't help in the beginning.
"The other ones did so well there was not a lot of reason for me to change and then being in the squad becomes difficult if Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota are there as well."
Slot added: "But is he good enough to play for us? Yes he is. Apparently I have always felt Lucho Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Mo Salah deserved the confidence I had in them and I hardly ever changed that set-up between the three of them."
The 27-year-old has been linked with a move back to Napoli this summer but it's understood the Serie A side have not approached Liverpool over any deal.
Chiesa is vying for a place in the squad on Monday when the Reds are entertained by Brighton & Hove Albion in their penultimate game of the campaign.