Federico Chiesa actions speak louder than words – He can’t escape brutal Liverpool transfer reality

Federico Chiesa scored his first Liverpool goal on this day last year against Accrington Stanley but remains limited to a bit-part role

Federico Chiesa has mixed emotions of the FA Cup. It was on this day last year that he scored his first Liverpool goal, coming off the bench to score in the Reds’ 4-0 victory over Accrington Stanley.

Yet in the fourth round, when handed only his third start for the club by Arne Slot, he struggled to make any kind of impact as Liverpool suffered a shock 1-0 defeat away at Plymouth Argyle.

One of the more senior players, it was a rare opportunity for Chiesa but one he failed to grasp. It has been theorised in some sections that his display that day has held him back ever since.

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The Italian has at least made more of an impact for Liverpool this season, returning two goals and three assists from 20 appearances. Yet he remains limited to a bit-part role.

Starting only three times, he recorded two assists in the League Cup win over Southampton back in September before cutting the most isolated of figures in attack in the fourth round loss to Crystal Palace the following month.

That premature cup exit has limited Chiesa’s opportunities since, with last month’s home clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers his only other start this season.

Handed his first ever Premier League start at Anfield against the West Midlands outfit, he ultimately failed to grasp his opportunity – and not for the first time.

Admittedly, it is challenging for Chiesa to make the desired impact when he has been starved of consistent minutes.

While the 28-year-old has made 20 appearances this season, they total a combined tally of 469 minutes of game-time. Only three of his 17 substitute outings have lasted longer than 20 minutes.

He is a firm fan-favourite regardless of course, boasting one of the catchiest terrace chants in modern years. But now 18 months into his Liverpool career, it is hard to envisage Chiesa’s fortunes suddenly making an about-turn.

With Mohamed Salah away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Alexander Isak having suffered a fractured leg, Cody Gakpo missing a number of games with a muscle injury and Hugo Ekitike missing the Reds’ last two games with a hamstring injury, his opportunities have still remained limited.

Yes, he has forced his way up the pecking order, ahead of Rio Ngumoha, having initially been left out of Liverpool’s Champions League squad in favour of the teenager back in September.

And yes, Slot started the forward in last month’s victory over Wolves.

But it was rather telling that the Dutchman opted to withdraw the 28-year-old on the hour-mark and push Jeremie Frimpong further forward after introducing Conor Bradley, as the Netherlands international completed the full 90 minutes despite only returning from a lengthy injury lay-off the week before.

Since then, he was introduced late on in draws with Leeds United and Fulham before being left unused against Arsenal.

But over the past six weeks, Frimpong, Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz, Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones have all been asked to line up in positions perhaps not considered their strongest ahead of Chiesa being handed a start.

With Salah due back from AFCON later this month, if the Italian has not forced his way up in the pecking order in the absence of the Egyptian, his hopes of staking his claim will not improve in the foreseeable future – even if the injury suffered by Bradley at Arsenal will likely see Frimpong have to revert back to a more natural right-back role.

Chiesa should least get an opportunity against Barnsley on Monday night, though in what position remains to be seen. Either way, he will hope for more a repeat of his maiden FA Cup appearance against Accrington rather than his latest showing against Plymouth.

But even then, that former outing highlighted the constant ‘always the bridesmaid, never the bride’ manner of Chiesa’s Liverpool career.

He had been pencilled in to start against the League Two side, only to miss two days of training ahead of the game due to illness. It was a somewhat telling indictment of his Anfield career to date.

As a result, a then 16-year-old Ngumoha was handed his debut from the start instead, with Chiesa only introduced at half-time. Throughout his time on Merseyside, he has rarely been able to catch a break.

“Rio was lucky that Federico wasn’t with us in the last two days because he was sick, otherwise Federico would have started, of course,” Slot revealed after the full time whistle that day. “Now he could play 45. We could bring Dom (Szoboszlai) 45 minutes, bring him out and then Federico (in).

“It’s nice to make your debut and if you have played for this club already then you want to score your first goal, especially in front of your own fans. That’s what he did now, so that’s a good next step.

“Let’s not get carried away too much because although I liked the way Accrington Stanley played, a lot, it is in the end a League Two team. But it’s definitely a good next step for him to be available and even score a goal.”

Slot wasted no time in bringing expectations of Chiesa crashing back down to earth 12 months ago, following his maiden goal. While he has pushed on over the past year, rightly or wrongly it has evidently not been enough to warrant anything more than his ongoing bit-part role.

As was the case both last January and in the summer, the forward continues to be linked with a move away from Liverpool. Reports in Italy suggest Juventus are interested in re-signing a player they sold to the Reds in an initial £10m deal less than 18 months ago.

Juve manager Luciano Spalletti, who previously coached Chiesa with Italy, would play down such speculation earlier this month.

“I am pleased you are giving me this news, seeing as we haven’t even had a meeting yet on the transfer market,” he said, per Football Italia. “But it’s the first I’ve heard of it. For the moment, it’s just thrown out there, but absolutely nothing concrete behind it.”

But that does not change the fact that it would be a surprise if Chiesa’s Liverpool career did not come to an end at some point in 2026.

The openings have been there in the Reds’ starting XI over the past six weeks, and only once has opportunity fallen his way. Slot’s actions speak louder than words.

Whether a January exit would be entertained remains to be seen, especially with Liverpool’s squad already stretched by injury.

But having been signed as a low-cost squad option, that remains the limit of Chiesa’s role. His arrival was greeted by excitement by supporters, with many recalling the performance of a forward valued at £100m when firing Italy to Euro 2020 glory.

Yet having been stung by serious injury long before joining the Reds, he has failed to recapture such heights at Anfield.

An extended FA Cup run, starting with Barnsley, could hand him some much-wanted further opportunities in the months ahead.

But as the likes of Divock Origi, Takumi Minamino and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain found out back in 2022, the last time Liverpool won the competition, there is no room for fringe stars in starting XIs at the business end of the tournament.

It’s the brutal nature of football and the Italian has found his role.

Against Barnsley, Chiesa would like to prove otherwise. But with Slot seemingly remaining unconvinced, the odds are stacked against him to be anything more than this for the Reds.

The Italian remains a popular figure at Anfield and will likely start against the Tykes, with supporters desperate to see him succeed and recapture his past glories.

He has been unfortunate. But now a year and a half into his Liverpool career, the evidence would suggest that there is little more Chiesa has to give.