Federico Chiesa has received a call-up for Italy’s upcoming World Cup play-offs, a significant development for the winger who had previously requested to be omitted from the national squad to focus on regaining full fitness and securing consistent playing time at Liverpool.
However, this positive news for Chiesa arrives amidst increasing discontent among Liverpool supporters. Fans are left bewildered and angry by manager Arne Slot’s continued decision to overlook the Italian in crucial matches. This frustration reached a peak after the recent fixture against Brighton.
Chiesa’s Struggle for Minutes at Anfield Intensifies
The situation at Anfield seems far from providing the regular minutes Chiesa desires. During the match against Brighton, the Italian winger received another stark reminder of his challenging position within the squad. When striker Hugo Ekitike suffered an early injury in the opening minutes, many anticipated Chiesa, a natural attacking option, would be introduced. Instead, manager Slot opted to bring on midfielder Curtis Jones.
This tactical choice proved costly, as Liverpool ultimately lost the match 2-1. Fans online were quick to voice their outrage against Slot’s decision to keep Chiesa on the bench until only the final 13 minutes of the game.
Statistics for the current season further highlight Chiesa’s struggle for consistent involvement. So far, he has made 31 competitive appearances for Liverpool, contributing three goals and three assists. However, these contributions stem from a mere 660 minutes of total play across all competitions, with only four starts throughout the entire term.
