Arne Slot has confirmed that Federico Chiesa is ready to make his first start for Liverpool ahead of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup third-round clash against West Ham.
After making his debut appearance last week, Chiesa is now poised for a larger role in the upcoming fixture.
The Italian winger made his first appearance for the Reds in the Champions League against AC Milan, followed by a brief outing at Anfield during Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth. Despite limited game time, Chiesa has already shown flashes of his talent, with a long-range effort on goal during his home debut.
Chiesa ready to start, but not for 90 minutes
Speaking to reporters at the AXA Training Centre, Slot confirmed that Chiesa will likely start the match against West Ham, although he’s not yet ready to play a full 90 minutes.
“I don’t think he’s able to play 90 minutes. He only played 25 now, as a maximum, in the last three, four, five months,” Slot explained. “He didn’t play any friendlies for Juve either. But he’s able to start, in our opinion.”
While Chiesa may not be fit enough for a complete game, Slot is confident that the 26-year-old winger is ready to be in the starting lineup and make a meaningful impact. However, Slot emphasized that the Italian will be closely monitored to ensure he isn’t overworked in a match against what he described as a “strong West Ham team.”
Slot to rotate the squad again as schedule gets more intense
Slot has been employing rotation in recent matches, making four changes in the victory over Bournemouth, and this strategy is set to continue against West Ham.
The Liverpool manager is focused on balancing player fitness with maintaining performance levels, especially as the fixture list becomes more demanding.
“I want all of them to play. Unfortunately, that’s not possible, because you can only name 11,” Slot explained. “But we will play with the best possible team, and that can sometimes mean players who’ve played a lot may be a bit more tired.”
The Dutch manager confirmed that he will assess the squad’s fitness before making his final decisions on the lineup, but it’s clear that squad rotation is a key part of his approach. With games coming thick and fast, Slot is keen to keep the team fresh while ensuring that Liverpool maintain their momentum in both domestic and European competitions.
Chiesa’s expected start against West Ham offers fans an exciting glimpse of what the Italian can bring to the team as he builds his match fitness under Slot’s watchful eye.
