Arne Slot, on Sunday, became the first Dutch manager to win the Premier League. On the first time of trying, the Liverpool custodian lifted the English top flight trophy aloft – and the reason behind Federico Chiesa’s lack of minutes has been revealed.
Chiesa, 27, penned a four-year contract in the summer months as the club’s only signing – and his signature cost a mere £10 million as he tended to struggle with injuries at his former employers, Juventus. The deal was viewed by many as shrewd business.
Though, all in all, it’s not unfair to say that he’s endured a difficult start to proceedings for the tricky winger with the likes of Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz all ahead of him in the pecking order. Even an out-of-sorts Darwin Nunez is favoured.
Inside Chiesa’s Lack of Game Time at Anfield
Chiesa – since swapping Turin for Merseyside in the summer of 2024 – has been somewhat overlooked by Slot this season. In fact, a potential move back to his homeland in the January transfer window was mooted, but it never came to fruition.
Granted, the Italian has not been fully fit and raring to go at all times – but when he’s been relied upon, he’s looked lively. But, in the eyes of Slot and his entourage, it’s not been enough to see him nail down a starting spot at Anfield, widely regarded as one of the best stadiums in the history of the Premier League.
After not featuring in his side’s 5-1 dismantling of Tottenham Hotspur, which clinched the title for the Reds, Lewis Steele of Mail Online has provided reasoning behind why Chiesa, 27, has been limited to 395 minutes of action in his maiden campaign. He wrote:
“Well, for the first half of the season it was obvious: Federico Chiesa was not fully fit or anywhere close to being match-ready. And then I am told his performance at Plymouth in the FA Cup exit really concerned the coaching staff. It was not good enough and that set him back somewhat.”
Insisting that the AFC Fiorentina academy graduate has ‘not really’ had the best chance to prove his worth as yet, Steele also went out of his way to remind fans of Chiesa’s glimpses of brilliance – most notably, against Brentford and in the Carabao Cup.
He has had some nice cameos – Darwin Nunez took the credit for that win at Brentford, but he changed the game, too, and his goal at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final was very nice,” Steele continued. “I would like to see Chiesa get some minutes in the next few weeks. His future is uncertain to say the least but he has not really had a chance to show Slot and Co what he can do.”
“The other reason is that he is the sixth-choice striker so the others start or come on first through merit. It is a bit of a catch 22 for Chiesa but I am confident we will see him play some part in these final four games.”
Genova-born Chiesa has been commonly admired as one of the worst signings of the 2024/25 Premier League season – but whether he has a future under Slot remains to be seen. That said, his current contract expires in the summer of 2028.
