Arne Slot explains Federico Chiesa ‘problem’ ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth

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Liverpool players should be feeling refreshed and ready as they travel to play Bournemouth on Saturday.

Of the eleven expected to start down on the south coast, as many as nine did not even join the squad for Wednesday’s visit to PSV Eindhoven.

With Bournemouth also without a game in midweek, the playing field has been levelled for their Premier League meeting.

The likes of Andy Robertson and Cody Gakpo may expect to start after playing in Eindhoven as well, but by and large Arne Slot is set to select a well-rested Liverpool team.

Without many of their biggest stars on Wednesday, some more fringe players of the Liverpool squad will also be hoping for involvement after catching the eye against PSV.

In that respect, Federico Chiesa is perhaps the most likely to get minutes on Saturday. But according to Slot, Chiesa still has a ‘problem’ this season at Liverpool.

Federico Chiesa fighting the competition

Chiesa was very good against PSV in the Champions League. Playing his first 90 minutes since June, the 27-year-old had a hand in both of Liverpool’s goals.

This is unlikely to translate to a start on Saturday, as the Reds continue to manage his minutes.

Nevertheless, Slot was asked during his pre-match press conference whether Chiesa has shown that he is finally ready to get extended game time in the Premier League.

“He’s ready for more minutes in the Premier League because if you can play 90 minutes at Champions League level, you can play an amount of minutes in the Premier League,” said the Liverpool head coach.

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“His main problem, if you want to call it that, is that he’s in competition with the other attackers. I think you agree with me they are doing quite well also, but it’s very good for us.

“During training sessions we’ve got him to the point where he can play 90 minutes without having to play friendlies,” Slot continued. “So, a big compliment to him for how hard he’s worked and to the staff as well.”

Arne Slot hoping for well-rested Liverpool

Although Chiesa will not start on Saturday, it is fantastic to have him as a genuine option from the bench.

Against Bournemouth, though, Slot indicated that he is hoping the week off for some of those competing for places with Chiesa will lead to benefits in the long-run for Liverpool.

“The ones who stayed behind they didn’t rest in the sense they had three or four days off, they did train,” said the Dutchman.

“That doesn’t give us any guarantee for Saturday, but hopefully it will help us during the coming three or four moths because it is a long season for them, 10 months in a row playing games without any weeks off in between.”

Chiesa still has a fight on his hands to break into the group of players Slot is referring to, but he’s finally starting to make those steps.