Arne Slot urged to make Federico Chiesa call vs Arsenal after 'bad decision' costs Liverpool

Liverpool and Arne Slot could relieve some of the mounting pressure with a win over Arsenal. The manager has been told that Federico Chiesa is the key to victory.

Arne Slot has been told to select Federico Chiesa for Liverpool's trip to Arsenal. (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Liverpool, despite a growing unbeaten run, is under significant scrutiny. What was generously passing as a period of adaptation after a busy summer is now turning into a clear regression from last season's standards, even as the points tally continues to tick slowly upward.

The performance levels warn that this nine-game sequence is at risk of coming to an explosive end at some point, and many will have circled the upcoming trip to the Emirates in their calendars. With Mohamed Salah away at the African Cup of Nations and both big-money strikers potentially sidelined, it will be a challenge to even lay a glove on Mikel Arteta's title favorites.

At the other end, Arne Slot faces a huge test, especially from free kicks and corners. Liverpool recently parted ways with its set piece coach in light of a dismal offensive and defensive record, and will come up against the league's very best practitioners in this department.

To stand any chance of success, it's clear that Liverpool will need some kind of outlet of its own, rather than letting Arsenal send wave after wave of pressure in the direction of a shaky defense. And Paul Merson has told Slot to shake up his selection and turn to Federico Chiesa, either alongside or in place of Hugo Ekitike.

"Hugo Ekitike must play this game if he's fit," Merson wrote for SportsKeeda. "Arsenal are solid at the back and Liverpool need Ekitike up against them defenders.

"I would also play Federico Chiesa because of his energy. Liverpool won't have much of the ball in this game, so Chiesa will be useful on the break."

Ekitike is in a race against time, having not trained as of Slot's press conference on Wednesday morning. But Chiesa's battle is more to do with convincing his manager.

As Liverpool has continued to underwhelm, Chiesa's repeated omissions have become more and more baffling. He has repeatedly succeeded in influencing games from the bench, yet has mostly been forced to watch Slot try increasingly makeshift solutions rather than give him a run in the team.

Federico Chiesa's attitude and application have been exemplary, but he has struggled to convince Arne Slot. (Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

You can only assume that Slot has not been enamored with Chiesa's performances on the rare occasions when he has been handed the opportunity to start. But while it's true that he perhaps could have done more in these isolated outings, he's been about as effective as you could dare to hope in such a stop-start Liverpool career (with an emphasis on "stop", for that matter).

It's not a problem unique to Chiesa. Rio Ngumoha also has a right to feel aggrieved, with game time for the superstar prospect bizarrely limited despite the underperformance of senior colleagues.

Having said all that, it's also hard not to feel sorry for Slot. The oft-maligned Cody Gakpo was the one to score what appeared to be the winner against Fulham, after the manager had bravely elected to keep him on — and when he was eventually substituted off, this in turn was slammed as a terrible call.

"I don't understand why Arne Slot decided to take Cody Gakpo off after he scored against Fulham," Merson complained. "If Gakpo was on the pitch, he picks up Harrison Reed before that incredible late goal, it was such a bad decision from the Liverpool manager."

Slot's every move at Liverpool is currently under extreme scrutiny.(Image: Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)

That feels like a major hypothetical. It's not clear why Merson is so convinced that Gakpo would have found himself in the right-back position.

And in any case, it's hardly a controversial new move to bring on a defender to try and see out the last few minutes with a lead. Admittedly, it does seem to invite trouble with surprising regularity, but it's incredibly harsh to file it as a major Slot blunder.

Nevertheless, all eyes will be on the attacking selections when Liverpool takes on Arsenal. And while Slot is not in an enviable position, with any choice set to go under the microscope, it does seem like now is the time to take a chance on Chiesa.