When Federico Chiesa is predicted to make his ‘big comeback’ and play for Liverpool

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool’s game against Newcastle on Wednesday highlighted the need for a few players to get some time off.

The Reds’ have been playing relentlessly for both club and country ever since the season kicked off in August.

With the busy Christmas period now set to get going, it is exactly the wrong time for tired legs to start creeping into the Liverpool squad.

Part of the reason for the tiredness has been that Liverpool have struggled to deal with various injury problems.

A major issue has been in the forward line, where Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota have played just 13 games between them.

With only three appearances so far and none since the end of September, Chiesa in particular needs to get back to playing. And after seeing him make an appearance for the U21s on Wednesday, journalist Paul Gorst predicted when that might be.

When could Federico Chiesa be back playing?

Chiesa has been back in training for the past couple of weeks with the first-team. However, it’s obvious that the Liverpool coaching staff are taking it very easy with the Italian.

As he has a history of fitness issues, the Reds are wisely taking their time to build his match fitness and get him up to speed.

Part of that process has to be playing games, though. And though he featured for 60 minutes – and scored – for the U21s in midweek, he’ll need to be thrown back in with the senior squad at some point.

Asked when that could be while featuring on The Redmen TV, Gorst suggested that the Carabao Cup quarter-final with Southampton on December the 18th might be the one to watch out for.

READ MORE: Liverpool’s best five Premier League Merseyside Derby wins at Goodison Park ranked

“Is it too soon for him to play against Girona? Maybe, sadly,” said the journalist. “But maybe that Southampton game he might have circled as his big comeback.

“I think Everton might come too soon for him, I might be wrong on that. But I’d certainly be looking at Southampton. Because I think players just need a rest more so than getting Chiesa fit.”

Liverpool in need of Chiesa return

As Gorst says, Liverpool can only now wait so long for Chiesa to come back. If his fitness is not the problem and it’s more a case of match fitness, then Arne Slot should throw him in.

The Liverpool head coach has rotated Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz quite effectively over the past couple of months. But they all could do with a little more recovery time over this hectic period.

Mohamed Salah’s ability to go again and again and again should not be taken for granted, either.

Chiesa was seemingly brought in largely to ease the strain on Salah. And with the Egyptian in such good form it’s imperative that that happens sooner rather than later to avoid what would be a disastrous injury.

It has been a game of patience for both Chiesa and the Liverpool supporters after his move from Juventus in August. After a false start in 2024, let’s hope 2025 brings better fortunes.