Arne Slot urged to replace Mohamed Salah with Federico Chiesa - 'Deserves a run'

Mohamed Salah is set to miss several weeks of action for Liverpool as he competes in the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, while Federico Chiesa has made just one Premier League start this season

Federico Chiesa may get his chance at Liverpool with Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations(Image: Getty Images)

Arne Slot has been encouraged to hand Federico Chiesa a run in the Liverpool side in Mohamed Salah's absence.

However, the Egyptian has been tipped to end the campaign on a high note at Anfield after patching things up with the Reds manager following his controversial remarks earlier this month, in which he claimed his relationship with Slot had broken down.

Salah is currently representing Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations and netted a crucial late winner during the team's opening group fixture against Zimbabwe on Monday. With the tournament extending into late January, the 33-year-old could be sidelined for as many as eight matches for Liverpool.

The Reds are already dealing with numerous absentees, including Alexander Isak, who sustained a fractured left leg during last weekend's clash with Tottenham.

In the opening fixture without Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai was deployed on the right wing but collected a yellow card that rules him out of Saturday's encounter with bottom-placed Wolves.

When questioned about who should step into Salah's boots, former Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole has highlighted a player who hasn't earned a Premier League start this entire campaign. "Federico Chiesa probably deserves a run in the team," Cole told Paddy Power.

Chiesa has struggled to get minutes at Liverpool(Image: Andrew Powell, Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"This might be his opportunity, off that right side, if he can keep himself fit. Every time I see him play, he seems like the type of player I’d like to have played with. Outside of the current squad, Desire Doue at PSG, another winger who can play either side.

"First things first, though, you need to sit down with Mo Salah and work out what he wants to do, and whether he’ll be important for you from February onwards."

Liverpool's 2-1 victory at Tottenham stretched the team's unbeaten streak to six matches, none of which Salah has started.

After being left on the substitutes' bench for the 3-3 stalemate at Leeds earlier this month, the winger insisted he had no rapport with Slot and suggested he was being made a scapegoat for the Reds' disappointing form.

Salah was then omitted from the Champions League triumph at Inter, but engaged in frank discussions with the Liverpool manager before entering as a substitute to feature for most of the 2-0 Premier League victory over Brighton ahead of his AFCON departure.

"Things can be mended," added Cole. "He needs to go away to AFCON, play and fight for his country, then when he comes back, get his head switched on for Liverpool and make a fresh start.

"He seems to have cleared things up with the manager, and I think it’s a good time to have had that little spat, and I have no problems with apologies being made.

"If I’m Arne Slot, I want Mo Salah firing on all cylinders. If he’s sat down with him and figured out he still wants to be here, then he needs to help him get his fire back."