Arne Slot has intensified rumors of Federico Chiesa’s potential Liverpool exit after benching the Italian star in their FA Cup match against Accrington Stanley.
Chiesa, Liverpool’s sole summer signing under Slot, joined from Juventus for a deal worth up to £12.5 million. However, his time at Anfield has been underwhelming.
The 27-year-old attacking midfielder has made only four appearances so far, starting just once and playing a mere 18 minutes in the Premier League.
Injury has played a role in Chiesa’s struggles, as he suffered a lengthy muscle issue earlier this season. Yet, despite returning to training last month, he has featured only once since, raising questions about Slot’s faith in him—even as a substitute.
The Italian has been linked with a return to Serie A, with reports suggesting Liverpool may use him in a swap deal for Napoli’s coveted winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Though Slot has publicly dismissed transfer rumors, his latest squad decision has fueled speculation.
For the FA Cup tie against lower-league side Accrington Stanley, Chiesa wasn’t even named in the starting XI—a surprising move considering the match offered a perfect chance to regain fitness and form. Meanwhile, big names like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Diogo Jota were all given starts.
Instead, 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha made history as the youngest player to debut for Liverpool. Slot praised Ngumoha’s fearless approach, saying, “He’s trained mostly with the U21s, but when with us, he’s not afraid to show his skills in one-v-ones. I hope he gets the chance to shine today.”
As speculation grows, it remains to be seen if Chiesa will depart in January. Liverpool also faces uncertainty over the futures of key players like Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, and Virgil van Dijk.
