Liverpool manager Arne Slot admits that Federico Chiesa is unlikely to make his debut for the Reds in their Premier League clash with Manchester United on Sunday.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has revealed whether he expects Federico Chiesa to be ready for his Reds debut in Sunday’s Premier League clash with Manchester United.
The 26-year-old became the second Liverpool signing of the summer transfer window on Thursday, joining in a bargain deal from Juventus for just an initial £10m, which could rise to £12.5m with add-ons.
Chiesa is settling into life on Merseyside after completing the formalities of his move from Turin, and he has been registered in time to appear at Old Trafford in Sunday’s blockbuster battle.
However, the Italy international has not played any competitive football since Euro 2024, having been frozen out of the Juventus squad at the start of the 2024-25 season due to his contract situation.
Given his injury record during his four years at Juventus, Slot has confirmed that he does not expect Chiesa to make his first Liverpool appearance at Old Trafford, unless injuries force his hand.
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Slot: ‘We might need Chiesa against Man United’
“He’s going to train with us today but it’s a bigger chance that he is not in the squad for Sunday than he is. If injuries might come up in the upcoming two days we might need him, but I don’t expect him to be in but I cannot guarantee this,” Slot said.
“One of the first things I noticed here is the players work really hard to achieve their goals so it’s important that the first player you bring in has the same attitude and brings the same culture.
“He works really hard on and off the pitch to try and get the best out of him and he combines this with scoring goals… he’s a really interesting signing. But we should take care of him in the beginning because he didn’t train with the team in the last two weeks, but beforehand, he did.
“He hasn’t played many game minutes yet but we have very good performances staff. We will build him up in the right way and hopefully see his quality in the future.”
While Chiesa will likely have to wait a bit longer for his Liverpool baptism, Slot still has a fully-fit attacking contingent at his disposal, with Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota expected to line up in an unchanged front three.
Arne Slot delivers Curtis Jones injury update
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Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez provide alternative offensive options for Liverpool, who almost have a clean bill of health for the trip to Manchester, but Curtis Jones is a serious injury doubt.
The midfielder sat out last weekend’s win over Brentford with a suspected groin injury, and Slot has confirmed that he will not be training with the team on Friday, suggesting that an appearance this weekend is off the cards.
“At the moment there are not any other injuries except for Curtis Jones and he will not train with us today. But the rest will train with us today,” the 45-year-old added.
Despite their quiet summer window, Liverpool are one of four Premier League teams boasting two wins from their opening two games of the season, joining Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester City in that exclusive club.
Slot also answered whether Liverpool could bring in any new players or offload any existing names on transfer deadline day, as the clock ticks down to the 11pm cut-off point.
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