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Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been told he should be starting Federico Chiesa ahead of Mohamed Salah following the latter’s outburst.
Salah’s future looks to be up in the air after his explosive interview last weekend, in which he took aim at Liverpool and his head coach. He accused the club of “throwing him under the bus” and suggesting someone at Anfield wanted him out, while also claiming that his relationship with Slot had broken down after being named on the bench for three straight games.
As a result, the 33-year-old was left out of the Reds’ squad for the Champions League win over Inter Milan in midweek, and now there are question marks over whether he will return against Brighton on Saturday.
Salah suggested that game could end up being his final appearance for the club, given he will be heading to the Africa Cup of Nations afterward, with the tournament potentially keeping him away until late January, by which time a transfer could potentially be agreed.
Whether he leaves the club or not in the New Year, former Manchester United and England star Paul Parker insists Chiesa should be getting into the side ahead of Salah, with the Italian having had to stay patient for his opportunities at Liverpool.
“You can’t have a player acting like Mohamed Salah has. He’s let his teammates down and he’s disrespected the club,” Parker told gambling portal British Gambler.
“Liverpool have players like Federico Chiesa at their disposal, who’ve been waiting in the wings and will jump on any opportunity they’re given.
“Chiesa deserves that opportunity, he’s a workaholic in that wide position flying up and down the pitch and every time he’s around the box he looks a threat. He’s not going to score 25 goals a season but where Liverpool are right now, they need someone who’s going to graft, particularly after losing Luis Diaz in the summer.
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“Arne Slot has made a decision, and looking at how Salah has played, he doesn’t deserve to start. When you’ve been given the chance like Salah has to grow an ego and no one has been there to clip it, the result is what we’re seeing happen right now.”
Whether Chiesa will get the chance to replace Salah this weekend also looks in doubt, with the Italy international having missed the midweek trip to Milan through illness.
Despite producing a number of important moments this season, including scoring late on in the opening day win over Bournemouth, Chiesa has still struggled to force his way into Liverpool’s side, although Slot insists he has been impressed by him.
“I am very happy to see Federico is in a much better place this season than he was last season; he struggled a lot last season with his fitness,” Slot said on Monday. “This season he has been much fitter than he was last season and as a result of that he has also had more playing time than he had last season.
“The moments he played, he also had a few very good moments. Like I said, it's up to the Italian manager to decide if he wants to select him, yes or no, but I like him as a player and I like him as a person.”
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