Arne Slot tells Federico Chiesa what he has to do to fight his way into Liverpool plans

Arne Slot has challenged Federico Chiesa to come back fighting fit after the summer break in order to prove he has a future at Anfield. The Italy international joined in a £12million last August but has started only THREE games all season.

While Slot had promised to give some fringe players game-time after the title had been sealed in late April, Chiesa did not even feature in the squad for the 2-2 draw with last Sunday. And it is clear one of Slot’s main issues with the 27-year-old attacker is his level of fitness and availability.

The Liverpool manager explained: “Does he have a future here? Yes, definitely he has. Next season, if he comes back completely fit, which he has hardly been for the first half-season, I can give him playing time in pre-season, so he can build himself up and then go even further.

“The moment he came in he was, by a long time, not as fit as the other payers were and that doesn't help in the beginning. The other ones did so well, there was not a lot of reason for me to change and then being in the squad becomes difficult if Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota are there as well."

Despite Slot’s extremely sparing use of Chiesa, the Liverpool boss insists the ex-Juventus forward IS good enough to make the Premier League grade, saying: “He is good enough to play for us, or a club of our standards. In terms of the quality he has, he would deserve more playing time at this football club, or the club he is playing for, as he has the quality to play for us.”

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But with Slot firmly settled on his best attacking trio - and clearly not a massive rotation enthusiast - it is clear that Chiesa, who has been linked with a switch to Napoli, faces a major challenge to make a success of his spell at Liverpool. Slot admitted: “Unfortunately for him, he is in competition with when it is about the right wing, but I think he can also play as a left-winger but he has and Lucho Diaz.

“I don't think I am wrong if I tell you these three have had a great season. They were doing so well this season, there was no reason not to play them.”

Slot is adamant that Liverpool are not actively looking to ship anyone out in the upcoming transfer window. But he did admit that the likes of Chiesa might want to look elsewhere if it becomes clear they face another campaign of limited game-time.

He said: "I've said many times already that we, as a club, are very happy with the players we have. Some of it is our decision but in some situations, some of the players who have not played a lot are not looking forward to another season of not playing a lot."

And Slot laughed off suggestions that on or two players might be fighting for their Anfield futures in the game at on Monday night and at home against on the last day of the Premier league season.

He said: “I don't think it would be fair to any player if you've worked with them for a whole season, you then change your opinion (on them) in the next two games coming up. Our opinion has been made over 10-11 months.”

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