Liverpool winger Federico Chiesa is expected to be back in action within the next two games, according to manager Arne Slot, who is eager to bolster his attacking options.
Chiesa, who has endured a difficult start to his Liverpool career due to a lack of playing time, could feature as early as this weekend’s Anfield clash against Fulham. However, his inclusion hinges on his recovery from a recent illness.
“I think [Chiesa and Diogo Jota] are [available this weekend],” Slot said in a press conference. “We have one more training session to go. Federico missed a lot for a long time; he was ill last week so we have to see how he is. Maybe Diogo is in the squad, maybe Federico as well, but that depends on the numbers and how he’s recovered from his illness.”
With a Carabao Cup trip to Southampton looming next week, Slot hinted at the possibility of using the fixture to give Chiesa and fellow forward Diogo Jota some much-needed game time.
The manager is expected to rotate his squad for the cup tie.
Slot acknowledged the challenge of integrating Chiesa, who has only managed 78 minutes of senior football for Liverpool so far.
The Italian winger missed pre-season training and has been steadily building his fitness in recent weeks.
“What’s difficult is we play so many games, and what he needs is playing time,” Slot admitted. “The problem is if you haven’t played for five or six months, it’s difficult for a manager to give him his first minutes, because you don’t know what to expect.”
While Chiesa has impressed in training, Slot emphasized the importance of competitive matches for regaining fitness.
“We see his quality, we know his quality, but he needs to get his fitness level, and if you only have training that’s not the same as playing time. You need playing time to reach those fitness levels,” Slot explained.
“If you’re competing for the league, competing in the Champions League, it’s not always easy to find these minutes. Maybe if you’re four or 5-0 up, but for the whole season, that’s only been once, I think. The rest has been a struggle or a fight for every game,” he added.
With the Southampton match potentially offering a more forgiving environment, Chiesa could be set for a significant role. This would mark a crucial step in his return to regular first-team action for Liverpool.
