Liverpool are in complete disarray right now. Mohamed SalahVladimir's decision to speak out about his personal problems in the team, causing an arson under the club. This has never happened before.
The sheer number of points dropped was worrying and there was a lot of pressure on Arne Slot and the players to turn things around, but now we have some worrying information behind the scenes.
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Salah did not travel on Monday, having missed Tuesday's win over Inter Milan at the San Siro, but both Cody Agat And Federico Chiesa also missed due to injury. As a result, the only strikers the Slot could use were Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz and Rio Ngumoha.
Fortunately, it turned out that Chiesa only had an illness and not a health problem, and although it is true that The Italian was left out of the game even when Salah was on the benchSlot may not have that luxury when Brighton travel to Anfield on Saturday. One last opportunity awaits him.
Finally Sloth's hand is forced
The Dutchman's reluctance to play with Chiesa This is well documented: at press conferences, he answered as usual when asked why the Italian was not playing. Always “every player has the opportunity to start” – although in Chiesa’s world this only happens in cup matches.
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Two starts, each of which he played 90 minutes, increased his overall record for the season: excluding the League Cup matches against Southampton and Crystal Palace, he was given just 223 minutes.
His fitness level couldn't be any better compared to how much he struggled last season and yet he's not being used – despite scoring twice and providing three assists in the limited opportunities he's been given.
As mentioned earlier, it is not that Salah is hindering him. In the last four games, Salah has played just 45 minutes and Chiesa just 13 minutes. There is no desire to communicate with him.
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Sloth may feel his job is secure for now because the club has decided to back him, but the main sin is failing to rotate the squad enough – not hang Salah out to dry – goes under the radar.
After this weekend's game against Brighton, Chiesa is likely to be the club's only right winger, given Gakpo's reported injury. Liverpool ECHO I'm guessing he won't be around until Christmas – it's clear that Slot will have no choice but to give Chiesa more playing time.
Ngumoha can play on the left flank from time to time, although his lack of experience and limited fitness at senior level means his minutes are likely to be limited and playing with Isak and Ekitike has not yet worked.
An injury to one of the couple will shift the burden of a busy holiday period onto the other. This is a risk that Slot cannot take too often because it could end badly.
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So it looks like Chiesa will have to return to actionAnd this may be his last opportunity to prove himself as a Liverpool player.
The prospect of a January move is something he will carefully consider, given he will likely remain on the bench for the rest of the season when those who were privileged before him will be available again.
Making money as a footballer is most fans' dream, but there comes a time when you have to kick the ball in a competitive environment and Chiesa rarely gets to indulge himself in those moments.
If the Italian's circumstances do not change over the next month, then it is a foregone conclusion for him, especially since it seems impossible to imagine how Slot will survive this period without his use, even if it is just to crunch the numbers. If given the chance, he should impress Slot.
