Arne Slot Addresses Chiesa’s Lack of Minutes After Newcastle Win | OneFootball

Arne Slot Frustrated Over Federico Chiesa’s Lack of Game Time

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has admitted his disappointment over Federico Chiesa’s ongoing struggle for minutes following their 2-0 victory over Newcastle United at Anfield.

Liverpool’s Title Push Continues

The Reds took another step toward the Premier League title on Wednesday, securing a comfortable win over Newcastle thanks to goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister. The result pushed Liverpool 13 points clear at the top, reinforcing their dominance in the title race.

However, while the three points strengthened their position, one subplot continued to linger in the background—Chiesa’s ongoing struggle for game time. The Italian international was once again left on the bench, marking the ninth occasion this season that he has remained unused.

Chiesa’s Liverpool Struggles Persist

Chiesa’s time at Liverpool has been far from straightforward. Arriving from Juventus last summer, the winger carried minor fitness concerns after being sidelined by the Serie A club. It took over a month for him to regain competitive sharpness, forcing Slot to introduce a personalised training programme to bring him up to speed.

Despite now being fully fit, Chiesa has found opportunities limited, featuring in just ten games for Liverpool—most of those appearances coming as a substitute. Italy manager Luciano Spalletti has openly questioned his lack of involvement, adding further scrutiny to the situation.

FA Cup Exit Leaves Chiesa in Limbo

Liverpool’s FA Cup exit at the hands of Plymouth last month was the last time Chiesa saw competitive action. With no fixture this weekend due to their elimination, the winger has been denied another opportunity to impress.

Slot expressed his frustration after the Newcastle match, acknowledging that he had hoped to rotate his squad and provide valuable minutes to players like Chiesa and Harvey Elliott.

“I’m still a bit disappointed that we don’t play on the weekend,” Slot admitted. “Because, of course, Mo [Salah] wouldn’t have played, of course Virgil [van Dijk] wouldn’t have played.

Photo: IMAGO

“But it would have been an ideal moment for the likes of Harvey Elliott, Jarell Quansah, Federico Chiesa and all the others to get some playing time as well to keep them ready for the end phase of the season.

“So, unfortunately, we’re out, but that also means that the players have two days off now, and then from Saturday onwards, we fully focus on Paris Saint-Germain.”

With Liverpool still competing on multiple fronts, Chiesa’s role in the final stretch of the season remains unclear. Whether he can force his way into Slot’s plans or continues to be a peripheral figure is a question that lingers as the Reds chase glory.