Arne Slot explains Federico Chiesa's latest Liverpool absence as Italian's woe continues
Share:
Federico Chiesa missed Sunday's 6-3 win over Tottenham due to illness, Liverpool boss Arne Slot has confirmed. The Italy international joined the Reds in the summer from Juventus but has endured a challenging start to his Anfield career. He's hardly featured for his new side, playing just 123 minutes due to fitness issues.
Chiesa did play 45 minutes in Liverpool's recent win over Southampton in the Carabao Cup and had been expected to follow that up with a spot on the bench against Spurs last Sunday, only to miss out on the matchday squad entirely. His absence sparked speculation on social media - but Slot has revealed that the winger only missed out because he was sick.
Slot explained: “Sick. Ill, unfortunately for him because he had some minutes against Southampton, but unfortunately, he was sick in the last two days and today as well so we couldn’t bring him to the game.”. The Dutchman went on to paint a far more positive picture on Chiesa moving forward, though, adding of the 27-year-old: “He definitely is [getting stronger].
“You see him on the pitch now, it means he’s getting stronger and better. He had to adapt for quite a long time. I’ve said so many times, as expected if you miss team training sessions for so long. And then you go to a league where the intensity is so high as well, and to a team who plays with a lot of intensity.
“He is getting stronger, but he’s also facing a lot of competition in the right-wing position!”. It remains to be seen whether or not Chiesa will be included in the Liverpool squad that will face struggling Leicester on Boxing Day. Diogo Jota is back in the fold, though, to add further depth to Liverpool's forward options.
