‘Sensational’ Liverpool player snubbed by Arne Slot sends clear message on his future

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Liverpool progressed in the Carabao Cup after surviving a scare against Southampton.

Alexander Isak scored his first goal for his new club to open the scoring before half-time, but the Championship side threatened an upset when Shea Charles equalised on 76 minutes.

However, Hugo Ekitike had the final say, scoring the winner just a few minutes from time before being sent off after bizarrely removing his shirt while already on a yellow card.

Arne Slot admitted he was not best pleased with his team’s performance, but one player who has flown under the radar during his time in charge came to his rescue at Anfield.

Federico Chiesa wants to impress Arne Slot

Indeed, Federico Chiesa was Liverpool’s hero on the night after popping up with both assists.

He spent much of his first campaign on Merseyside on the fringes of the first team but has been given a more prominent role this season, and now has three goal contributions from his opening six outings.

The winger looked set to leave the club during the summer, and Bayern Munich even enquired about Chiesa, but he made the decision to stay and fight for his place.

Despite being overlooked for Slot’s Champions League squad, the 27-year-old is determined to do all he can to earn more minutes in the other competitions.

“I can play more in this competition but I want to show the manager I can play more in the Premier League,” Chiesa told reporters on Tuesday night.

“The coach gave me chances in the first four games and I think I showed that I can help the team. I’m not in the Champions League squad but I am focused on the Carabao Cup.”

Federico Chiesa is good enough to play more

Supporters said Chiesa was “sensational” against Southampton, and he has become something of a cult hero, with a catchy chant to the tune of Dean Martin’s “Sway” to boot.

Sources told TBR Football’s chief correspondent Graeme Bailey that Slot believed Chiesa was capable of making an impact this season, and he has been proven correct.

Signed from Juventus in a bargain £13million deal, the diminutive Italian looks to have finally come into his own at Liverpool, and he is a savvy squad option to rotate in and out of the team.

Playing him more is a no-brainer, and he will surely prove especially important when Liverpool are forced to fight across four competitions over the coming months.