Liverpool, how much does Chiesa return? Slot: "He needs to play, but I don't know what to expect"

Liverpool, 13 December 2024 – When August 29th passed by Juventus al Liverpool, Federico Church he had certainly imagined a better start than the one he is experiencing. So far, in fact, the former Juventus number 7 has played just 78 minutes this season for a total of 3 appearances, spread out as follows: 18 in Prime minister League, 59 in EFL Cup (where, among other things, he provided an assist) and 1 in Champions LeagueChiesa's last appearance with the Reds' first team dates back to 25 September in the League Cup against West Ham, in the match that Liverpool won 5-1, and since then, the Italian player has become something of a mystery around Anfield Road. Since the last appearance of the number 14, in fact, Liverpool has imposed its supremacy in both the Premier League and the Champions League, occupying first place in the table in both competitions. Arne Slot's team plays exceptional football, led by an extraordinary Momo Salah who has already scored 16 goals and 12 assists this season. Chiesa has witnessed Liverpool's rise away from the pitch, returning to wear the Reds' shirt in just one match on December 4, when he took part in the challenge of Liverpool U21 against Nordsjaelland, valid for the Premier League International Cup. In that challenge, Chiesa also found the net. The moment of his return to the first team, however, does not seem to have arrived yet. In the last press conference, in fact, the Reds' manager Arne Slot he addressed the issue of Federico Chiesa again, highlighting how he has returned to the first team group in all respects, but indicating the return date as December 18th, when the Reds will face Southampton in the League Cup. These were the Dutch coach's words on Chiesa in front of the microphones: "He needs to play, the problem is that if he hasn't played for five or six months, sometimes it's difficult for a coach to give him his first minutes, because you don't know exactly what to expect. You see him in training, you see him in a friendly during the week or in an Under-21 match, but this is not the situation we find ourselves in. We play a lot of games, so the one against Southampton could be the right one to give him a few minutes in his legs, and then we'll know better what to expect from him". In recent weeks, there has been talk of a possible loan in January for the former Juve player, with several Italian teams monitoring the situation. In any case, Chiesa needs to shine again also to regain a place in the national team, after not being called up for any of the last three breaks.