Even in Arne Slot’s first, title-winning season, one of the biggest criticisms was his unwillingness to give fringe and youth players any significant minutes. Although The Reds put the league to bed early, and secured the top seed in the Champions League, the wear and and tear on the starting XI became apparent starting around March last year, resulting in a League Cup final defeat, and an unceramonious exit in the Champions League Round of 16.
Looking back, it seems as if Liverpool’s squad never
really recovered, finishing the 2025/26 campaign on fumes.
Among the many players left to ride the pine was Federico Chiesa, who signed on a cut-rate deal from Juventus in the summer of 2024. Chiesa, for his part, has remained a consumate professional, and seemed to be a good player to have around the dressing room. However, according to reports out of Italy, he’s hoping that a change of manager will also change his fortune at Liverpool.
“If I don’t find consistency in the Premier League, I’ll have to look elsewhere. I barely played in my first year at Liverpool, and in the last one, very little,” Chiesa said.
“I’ll go on a training camp in the US, then I’ll talk to the club and the new manager, Iraola, and we’ll see.”
“I’ve played very little since the start of 2026. I have a relationship with Liverpool. In January, the club and Slot told me I couldn’t leave; they needed me, partly for numerical reasons.
“We were in a tight spot. I understood the situation and I was left smiling. Liverpool is always talked about; last year they helped me win the Premier League.”
As things currently stand, Liverpool’s squad—especially at the top end of the pitch—is pretty threadbare. To make matters worse, from early reporting it does not seem as if Liverpool will be able to make the same outlay as last summer in order to bring in many reenforcements. Moreover, there are lots of holes in the squad, including but not limited to—right back, center back, midfield, left wing, right wing, and striker. Possibly goalkeeper too.
So, if Fede wants to stick around to fight for his spot, and if Iraola actually gives him some minutes in order to play him back into something resembling form, it could be a win-win-win for Chiesa, Liverpool, and the new manager.
