2 days ago
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Arne Slot brushed aside questions about Federico Chiesa’s chances of starting in the Premier League clash against Leeds United on Saturday, following another influential impact off the bench in midweek.
The Italian has repeatedly provided game-changing moments after being introduced as a substitute this season, including with goals against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace.
His contribution in Wednesday’s draw at home to Sunderland came at the other end, however, with the former Juventus man blocking Wilson Isador’s shot off the line in the final throes of the match, after he had rounded Alisson. It was a moment that ensured the Reds didn’t suffer a third consecutive home defeat.
But Chiesa’s starting minutes remain limited. The winger is yet to be named in a Premier League or Champions League line-up this season, with his only starts coming in the Carabao Cup.
That’s despite the Reds struggling in the attacking areas recently, and Dominik Szoboszlai being preferred to Chiesa off the right.
Slot was asked about his reluctance to select the attacker from the off ahead of the trip to Leeds United on Saturday.
“Every player has a possibility to start, but we have many options to start in his position as I said so many times before,” said the Liverpool head coach.
“He is indeed having an impact coming off the bench. Normally, you bring a striker in to score a goal, but in this situation, he kept on running in a moment when a player could also feel ‘I don’t think I can do a lot anymore because he could go one vs one’.
“So it tells you the mentality he has to not concede. That is a good thing. That is what not only defenders should have, that’s what attackers should have.”
Meanwhile, Slot also failed to be drawn on whether Mohamed Salah could return to the starting line-up at Elland Road.
“Every player is in my mind to start because we have so many good players and Mo has been such an exceptional player for us. He is always in my mind to either start or come in,” said Slot, who added he can understand why the 33-year-old’s omission from the team has caused such media furore in the last week.
The Liverpool head coach also revealed that Conor Bradley is an option against Leeds after missing the last four matches through injury.
Giovanni Leoni and Jeremie Frimpong are therefore the only injury concerns for Saturday.
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