Liverpool are in complete disarray right now, with Mohamed Salah's decision to speak out about his personal struggles in the team, having set a fire under the club. It's never been like this before.Th...
Liverpool are in complete disarray right now, with Mohamed Salah's decision to speak out about his personal struggles in the team, having set a fire under the club. It's never been like this before.
The sheer amount of dropped points was troubling, and the pressure was firmly on Arne Slot and the players to turn things around, but we've now been given a disturbing insight behind the scenes.
Salah didn't travel on Monday, missing Tuesday's win over Inter Milan at the San Siro, but both Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa also missed out due to injury. That left Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz and Rio Ngumoha as the only available forwards for Slot to utilise.
Fortunately, it's been revealed that Chiesa only has an illness, rather than a fitness issue, and while it's true that the Italian was sidelined even when Salah was benched, Slot may not have that luxury when Brighton travel to Anfield on Saturday. A final opportunity awaits for him.
At last Slot's hand is forced
The Dutchman's reluctance to play Chiesa has been well documented, with him opting for his usual response in press conferences when asked about why the Italian isn't playing. It's always, "every player has the opportunity to start" - although in Chiesa's world, that only happens in cup matches.
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Two starts, with him playing 90 minutes in each, have boosted his overall record for the season, with just 223 minutes being offered outside of the Carabao Cup contests against Southampton and Crystal Palace.
His fitness levels couldn't be higher, compared to how much he struggled last season, and yet he's not be utilised - despite scoring twice and getting three assists in the limited opportunities he has received.
As mentioned earlier, it's not that Salah has got in his way. In the last four games, Salah has played just 45 minutes, while Chiesa has just 13 minutes. There is a lack of willingness to engage with him.
Slot might feel his job is secure for now, with the club opting to back him, but the cardinal sin of failing to rotate his squad enough - rather than hanging Salah out to dry - is going under the radar.
Beyond the weekend game against Brighton, it's certain that Chiesa will be the only right-winger at the club, and following the intel regarding Gakpo's injury - which Liverpool ECHO believe will keep him out until Christmas - it's clear that Slot will have no choice but to give Chiesa more game time.
Ngumoha might play on the left-side at times, although his lack of experience and limited fitness at the senior level, means his minutes will likely be capped, and playing both Isak and Ekitike hasn't worked so far.
An injury to one of the pair would place the burden of the busy festive period on the other. It's a risk that Slot cannot make too often, because it could end badly.
So, it appears as though Chiesa will have to re-enter the fold, and it might be his last opportunity to shine as a Liverpool player.
The prospect of a January move is something he'll heavily consider, given he's likely to remain on the substitute bench for the remainder of the season when those favoured ahead of him are back available.
Earning money for being a footballer is most fans' dreams, but there comes a point where you need to be kicking a ball about in a competitive setting, and Chiesa rarely gets to indulge in such moments.
If the Italian's circumstances don't change over the next month, then the writing is on the wall for him, especially since it feels impossible to comprehend Slot getting through this period without using him, even if it's merely to make up the numbers. If he's given the chance, he's got to impress Slot.
Category: General Sports
