Arne Slot to Recall Liverpool Star as Four Players May Miss Wolves Clash

Arne Slot will not have to deliver any unwelcome news to a senior Liverpool player ahead of their upcoming match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on Sunday.

The Reds’ boss has recently had to leave players out of his squad due to the impressive depth available. While a healthy squad is an advantage for any manager, it also presents the challenge of informing some players that they will not be involved.

Slot faced this dilemma during the Merseyside derby against Everton. Federico Chiesa missed the chance to feature in the heated rivalry and was left out of Liverpool’s matchday squad.

Since arriving from Juventus for £10 million in August, Chiesa has struggled to gain momentum. A lack of match fitness, caused by limited playing time at his former club over the summer, left him trailing behind his new teammates and forced him to work hard to catch up.

Although Chiesa has improved his fitness, he has yet to secure a regular spot in Slot’s plans. Breaking into the starting lineup was always going to be a challenge, considering Liverpool’s attacking options.

Mo Salah continues to shine, scoring his 27th goal of the season in the 2-2 draw against Everton, while Cody Gakpo has impressed on the left wing. Additionally, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, and Darwin Nunez remain ahead of Chiesa in the pecking order.

Chiesa had an opportunity to make an impact in Liverpool’s FA Cup fixture against Plymouth Argyle last weekend. However, the Italy international failed to impress against the Championship side, as the Premier League leaders suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat. He struggled to adapt to the physical demands of the game and was unable to leave his mark.

With more than 20 players available for selection against Everton, Chiesa was the unfortunate omission. However, Curtis Jones’ dismissal after receiving a second yellow card for an altercation with Abdoulaye Doucoure has opened up a place in the squad. As a result, Chiesa is set to be recalled. The 27-year-old has featured in 10 matches for Liverpool so far, scoring once.

On Jones’ dismissal, Slot – who also received a red card – said: “I like a lot that he stands up for the team – for the team and for the fans – but there are also other ways to do that, maybe. I will talk with him about that, but it is the same for me.

“I should’ve acted differently after the game as well. It’s an emotional sport and sometimes individuals, out of emotion, make the wrong decision. That’s definitely what I did.”

Liverpool are also facing concerns over Cody Gakpo’s fitness ahead of their clash with Wolves. The forward, who has netted 16 times in 35 appearances this season, sustained a knock during the match against Everton and will undergo further assessment.

Meanwhile, Joe Gomez has suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury, and the club is weighing up the possibility of surgery. The defender picked up the problem during last weekend’s unexpected 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Plymouth Argyle.

Additionally, Tyler Morton underwent shoulder surgery earlier this week, which could pave the way for James McConnell to be named on the bench if Gakpo is unavailable.

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