Liverpool fans are eagerly waiting to see if summer signing Federico Chiesa will make his debut this weekend when the Reds take on Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
The Italian winger, who joined from Juventus in a deal that could rise to £12.5 million ($16.4m), has been gradually working on his fitness since arriving in Merseyside. However, he didn’t have a full pre-season, playing only sparingly since Italy’s European Championship exit in June.
During the international break, Chiesa trained with Liverpool’s U21 squad, and now, according to head coach Arne Slot, he’s back in full swing with the first team.
Slot provided a fitness update during his pre-match press conference, saying, “Chiesa has trained three or four times with the team, so let’s see how he does today because we have more than 20 players to choose from.”
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What Arne Slot said on Harvey Elliott injury
While fans are excited about Chiesa’s potential debut, the news isn’t all positive for Liverpool. Harvey Elliott, who impressed during pre-season, suffered a fractured foot and could be out until late October.
Slot expressed his disappointment, saying, “Harvey, it’s a big disappointment for him and us. He did really well in pre-season, and if he stayed fit, he would've played a lot. Now, it's a chance for someone else, but it's a blow for him and us because availability is important at this stage of the season.”
Arne Slot provided updates on the fitness of Federico Chiesa, Harvey Elliott and Alexis Mac Allister during this morning’s pre-match press conference 💬
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 13, 2024
Liverpool have made a flawless start to the season, winning all three of their opening Premier League matches.
With Nottingham Forest visiting Anfield on Saturday, fans will be hoping the Reds can maintain their perfect run – and maybe even get a first glimpse of Chiesa in a Liverpool shirt.
