Federico Chiesa goes missing again! Liverpool boss Arne Slot explains why struggling winger was left out completely in West Ham rout

Since his highly anticipated move, the 27-year-old has faced an extended period of setbacks, ranging from injuries to illnesses, limiting his contributions to Liverpool’s campaign. Chiesa’s omission against West Ham marked the 16th game he has missed this season, excluding the two matches he was unavailable for shortly after completing his summer transfer from Juventus.

Chiesa made a brief return to the bench in Liverpool’s 3-1 Boxing Day win over Leicester City but did not travel to London, with youth prospect Jayden Danns included in the squad instead. After the emphatic win over West Ham, Slot provided clarity on Chiesa’s absence and explained the club’s careful approach to managing his recovery and reintegration.

“With Federico I’ve said it many times already, we are working on two things," Slot explained.

"We are working on his match fitness and whenever we can, we try to bring him on the bench with the team. But he was on the bench during the week and we thought it was better for him to have some extra training sessions instead of joining us, so it’s a constant balance we have to find between getting him fitter and fitter and letting him join the team.”

Liverpool’s next challenge comes on January 5, when they welcome fierce rivals Manchester United to Anfield. As the team prepares for this marquee clash, the focus on managing Chiesa’s fitness remains crucial.