Liverpool enjoyed a dominant 5-0 victory over West Ham on Sunday, dispatching the Hammers with ease.
The win moves the Reds eight points ahead at the top of the Premier League standings, boosting their hopes of securing the title. There were several notable moments from the match at the London Stadium, with Joe Gomez’s hamstring injury being the only concern for Liverpool.
Following the game, Arne Slot confirmed that Gomez could be sidelined for “a while” after being substituted due to the injury.
Another issue for Liverpool was Federico Chiesa’s absence from the squad. Chiesa’s omission was unexpected, and during his post-match press conference, Slot explained the reason behind the Italian winger’s absence. His exclusion from the traveling squad raised questions about a potential new injury.
However, Slot clarified that leaving Chiesa behind was part of a planned approach to getting the Italy international fully fit.
“Federico, as I’ve said several times, we’re focusing on two things: improving his match fitness and gradually integrating him back with the team,” Slot said.
“He was on the bench earlier in the week, but we thought it would be more beneficial for him to have extra training sessions instead of traveling with us. We’re always trying to find the right balance between increasing his fitness and getting him involved with the team.”
When will Federico Chiesa be ready for selection? While Slot’s reasoning provides some clarity, the situation remains somewhat puzzling. It seems strange to leave Chiesa out if he’s indeed on the road to recovery. It would likely be more beneficial for Chiesa to feel involved with the squad rather than be left out entirely.
Federico Chiesa at Liverpool
| Opponent | Minutes |
|---|---|
| AC Milan | 1 |
| Bournemouth | 18 |
| West Ham | 59 |
| Southampton | 45 |
| Total | 123 |
Although we trust Slot’s judgment, it does seem that this particular match would have been a good opportunity to include Chiesa, rather than next week’s encounter with Manchester United.
Liverpool now have a week off, so perhaps Chiesa can prove his readiness and secure a spot for that crucial fixture. However, if Slot still feels he’s not fully prepared, it will mean another match in which Chiesa has been unable to regain his match fitness. It’s certainly an odd situation.
