Liverpool manager Arne Slot has urged patience as forward Federico Chiesa works to regain his full fitness after a lengthy injury lay-off.
The 27-year-old Italy international made his first appearance since his recovery on Wednesday, playing the second half in Liverpool’s 2-1 League Cup quarter-final victory at Southampton. Chiesa, who joined the Reds from Juventus in a deal potentially worth £12.5 million ($15.7 million), had been sidelined for almost three months.
Slot expressed cautious optimism following Chiesa’s return to action, acknowledging that the player has made only four appearances since his move to Anfield. He stressed the challenge of getting Chiesa back to his best form, especially after being out for such a long period.
“I think what I saw is what you can expect,” said Slot. “When a player is out for five or six months, you can’t expect too much. I saw good moments and some where I felt he could do better, but that’s normal after such a long absence.”
The Dutch manager went on to highlight the challenge Chiesa faces in competing for a place in Liverpool’s forward line, alongside Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, and Diogo Jota.
“Getting him back to his best won’t be easy,” Slot added. “But it was good to see he showed some quality already. However, it’s the same for him as it is for the youngsters—it’s not enough to just play; he needs to compete with Mo Salah, Gakpo, Diaz, Nunez, and Jota.”
Chiesa’s return to action was a positive for Liverpool, with goals from Nunez and Harvey Elliott securing the win at St Mary’s.
