Liverpool’s “Big Asset” to Get More Playing Minutes as Arne Slot Drops Selection Hint

Arne Slot has said that one particular Liverpool player now ‘needs’ more time on the pitch, following his recent first appearance of the season.

In Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over AC Milan on Tuesday night, Federico Chiesa made his club debut, coming off the bench for a four-minute stoppage-time appearance.

This marked his first outing since his transfer from Juventus last month, where the 26-year-old had been eased into action after being excluded from Juventus’ pre-season plans.

Speaking to beIN SPORTS after the win at San Siro (via Liverpool Echo), the head coach suggested that some of the players who didn’t feature much in the game against AC Milan are likely to see more playing time ‘soon’.

On the Italy forward, Slot said: “He had a difficult pre-season because he was not always able to train with the first team of Juve, so he had to train a lot on his own. Then it takes a bit of time to get your match fitness.

“It’s getting better and better. He needs playing minutes now, but he has competition from some good wingers as well, so let’s see when we’re going to use him.

“He’s going to be a big asset for us, a very good player for us, that’s clear. That’s what we knew before we signed him and it’s also what we see on the training ground now.”

Chiesa underwent pre-season training with Liverpool over the three weeks between his signing and his debut against Milan. During this time, his fitness was gradually built up, preparing him to get on the pitch when ready.

Given his limited appearance at San Siro, it’s unlikely that Chiesa will start against Bournemouth on Saturday.

However, he is expected to have a more extended role off the bench, aiming to be fully fit for selection in the Carabao Cup match against West Ham four days later.

That Carabao Cup fixture is anticipated to see a significantly altered lineup, with Slot likely to give starts to players such as Caoimhin Kelleher, Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah, Wataru Endo, and Curtis Jones, who have had minimal playtime in the season’s early weeks.

This game would also present an ideal opportunity for Chiesa to make his full debut for Liverpool on the right wing, potentially allowing Mo Salah a rest as the manager might look to manage the Egyptian’s playing time more strategically this season.

Having had a taste of competitive action, Chiesa will be eager to earn more playing time in upcoming matches, and fans are excited to see his contributions grow in the weeks to come.

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