The ordeal is over, Federico Chiesa can taste the field again. After 81 days of absence from the pitch, between muscle aches and condition delays that undermined his first season in the Premier League, the former Juventus player can finally return to the green rectangle with the Liverpool shirt.
Arne Slot, technician of Redsin fact he threw him into the fray in the 46th minute of the game, upon returning to the field for the second half against the Saints (momentarily ahead 2-0). Chiesa will now have the minutes and the opportunity to demonstrate that he is not a “bad” signing.
By the way, this entry into the field confirmed the preview released in the press conference on the eve of the match against Southampton by Slot himself: “”It’s definitely a time where he can get minutes. The amount of minutes is an open question. You can’t expect him to play 90 minutes, I think, especially because of his level, where the intensity is so high, given that he’s been out for five or six months now. But if he trains well, he will have minutes… but it will be a game in which not all of our starters will start, so we will have to manage the minutes. If we want to use some starters for less than 90 minutes, we have to balance the situation. I can only make five substitutions. So those who play minutes and then leave, perhaps at half-time, cannot be more than five, because the substitutions are limited to five. Federico will have minutes tomorrow, whether he starts, comes on or plays in the second half, it’s a decision we have to make during the day.”
The official lineups
SOUTHAMPTON (3-5-2): Ramsdale; Hartwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Wood; Bree, Downes, Ugochukwu, M.Fernandes, Manning; Dibling, Archer. Disposals: Lumley, Edwards, Sugawara, Lallana, Fraser, Amo-Ameyaw, Kamaldeen, Brererton Diaz, Onuachu. Trainer: Rusk.
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Endo, J.Gomez; Nyoni, Morton, Mac Allister; Elliott, Nunez, Gakpo. A breakdown: Jaros, Chiesa, Jota, Tsimikas, McConnell, Nallo, Ngumoha, Danns, Norris. Trainer: Slot.
Carabao Cup, the quarter finals
Wednesday 18 December
Arsenal – Crystal Palace
Newcastle – Brentford
Southampton – Liverpool
Thursday 19 December
Tottenham – Manchester United
