Federico Chiesa set for unexpected Liverpool reprieve amid injury blow latest
Federico Chiesa was Liverpool’s best player in their victory over Southampton, and he could now be handed the chance to play more.
Chiesa was left out of the Champions League squad and was also absent from Liverpool’s Premier League win over Everton, with the Italian low down the pecking order.
The winger is popular among Liverpool fans, and the Carabao Cup victory over Southampton saw him provide two assists.
The 27-year-old was frustrated to not be part of the Champions League registration, but he could now be included after an unexpected development.
Giovanni Leoni injury could hand Federico Chiesa opportunity
Liverpool signed another Italian in the summer as Giovanni Leoni joined from Parma, and the centre-back made his debut against Southampton.
However, after delivering a hugely impressive performance, Leoni has been struck down by a devastating injury blow.
He has torn his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which will keep him out for most of the season.
While this is terrible news for Leoni and his teammates, the one potential positive is that it could mean Chiesa can join the Champions League squad.
Until matchweek six, clubs are allowed to swap injured players out for unregistered players, and through this rule, Chiesa can be registered to feature in Europe.
Federico Chiesa deserves more opportunities
After a difficult first season, Chiesa is now starting to show glimpses of the talent which made him one of the world’s best wingers in his younger days.
The Italian has now provided three goals and assists in just 137 minutes of match action across the Premier League and Carabao Cup, and this form could translate to some of the Champions League early-stage games.
With games set to come thick and fast in the coming months, Chiesa could be useful for his European experience in some of these games, allowing Mohamed Salah to rotate, and his end product could help Liverpool maintain a winning momentum while keeping their squad fresh.
Chiesa will be all too familiar with Leoni’s injury heartbreak, though, having torn his ACL in the past, and Liverpool will hope that the young defender’s career is not derailed like the former Fiorentina winger’s was.
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