Arne Slot reveals reason behind Federico Chiesa’s shock omission vs Galatasaray

As Liverpool prepare to face Galatasaray in their first Champions League away clash of the season, Arne Slot has confirmed they will be without one key star

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed Federico Chiesa will miss the Reds’ Champions League meeting with Galatasaray. The Italian star has had a huge impact on the Merseysiders’ campaign, despite playing a largely bit-part role.

He has already scored key goals in their 4-2 opening day victory over Bournemouth and also made two assists to help them beat Southampton in the League Cup. Chiesa is proving to be a huge weapon for Liverpool off the bench.

However, his team-mates will have to cope without him as he will miss the clash due to an “injury niggle” he picked up against Palace. This was confirmed by Slot in his pre-match press conference previewing the Reds’ clash against the Turkish heavyweights.

The Liverpool boss said: “He got a little niggle, I think is the word, in the last game against Palace. He tried it but he couldn’t end the session, so we decided not to take him because in a few days it is Chelsea.”

Chiesa was recently included in Liverpool’s Champions League squad, despite not making the cut the first time. Slot initially opted to include 17-year-old teenage star Rio Ngumoha in his squad ahead of the Euro 2020 winner.

Chiesa was able to be brought into the squad after Giovanni Leoni tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the recent victory over Southampton. The ex-Juventus forward was Slot’s first ever signing at Liverpool, arriving in the summer of 2024 as the sole addition of that window.

He made few appearances in his debut campaign at Anfield, but he has proved his worth on multiple occasions this season. Chiesa scored an 87th minute equaliser against Crystal Palace, only for it to be cancelled out by Eddie Nketiah’s late winner against the Reds.

After the Italian’s brace of assists against Southampton, Slot lavished his performance with praise, saying: “I can accept completely that a team that plays for the first time together, players that haven’t played for a long time, that they don’t play as a team perfectly. But what I always want to see is players that try and work hard.

“So I said at half-time, for me it is completely not a coincidence that Federico picked the ball and assisted on the first [goal] because he was the one, in my opinion, that was most involved in the game, tried the most, worked the hardest.

“And then it wasn’t a coincidence again that he was the man that made a deep run, great ball by Robbo [Andy Robertson], by the way – who also has won so much at this club and also understands how to play this game: not underestimate it, just always be ready to play.

“That’s also the way to get yourself either back in the team or get as much playing minutes as you want. That’s why I was happy with a few individual performances but far from happy with a few other individual performances.”

Liverpool are in need of a positive result in the Champions League after losing to Palace. Their defeat to Oliver Glasner’s side was their first loss of the campaign in all competitions.

In their opening match of the Champions League, they let a two-goal lead slip against Atletico Madrid, but secured the three points after Virgin van Dijk headed in a 92nd minute strike.

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