Arne Slot has given an “important” assessment of Federico Chiesa following his first start for Liverpool. The summer signing has been all smiles since joining the club, particularly evident during his full debut at Anfield against West Ham.
Chiesa has worked hard to regain his fitness, and his efforts were rewarded with this long-awaited start. He seized the opportunity, notably setting up Diogo Jota’s first goal with an impressive acrobatic play.
However, despite his energetic display, Liverpool’s head coach expressed some reservations about Chiesa’s performance. In a press conference quoted by journalist Keifer MacDonald from Liverpool ECHO, Slot noted that he believes Chiesa is not yet performing at his highest level and emphasized the need for him to gain more match minutes.
Slot’s verdict is quite surprising, considering Chiesa created the most chances on the field (3) before being substituted in the 60th minute.
He also drew the most fouls during his time on the pitch, proving to be a persistent threat.
While he had only 22 touches, which is typical for a new attacking player still finding his place, his impact was nonetheless significant.
