Why Federico Chiesa Must Wait for His Liverpool Debut Following Nottingham Forest Exclusion

Federico Chiesa may have to delay his Liverpool debut after transferring from Juventus. The Reds secured the Italy international for £12.5 million before the transfer deadline to bolster their attacking options.

Chiesa has not participated in a competitive match since late June, when Italy was eliminated from the Euros by Switzerland. With all five of Arne Slot’s other forward options available, the Liverpool manager is taking a cautious approach before integrating the former Juventus player into the squad.

Chiesa attended Liverpool’s match at Old Trafford, watching their win over Manchester United before the international break. The 26-year-old utilized the two-week period to improve his fitness at the AXA Training Centre, where he worked with the Under-21s before rejoining the first team this week.

Liverpool resumes Premier League play this afternoon, facing Nottingham Forest at Anfield. The team aims to maintain their perfect start to the season, having won their first three league matches before the international break.

Arne Slot was asked about Chiesa’s potential inclusion in the game against Forest. The Liverpool head coach suggested that Chiesa might need to wait for his opportunity to debut for the club.

“Federico has trained with the team now three or four times, so we will see how he performs today and what decision I make, as we have more than 20 players,” Slot told reporters on Friday. “(It depends) on whether I choose based on position or the fittest players at the moment.”

Slot has made only one change in Liverpool’s Premier League matches so far, with Ibrahima Konate replacing Jarell Quansah for the home game against Brentford last month. The following match against Manchester United saw the same starting XI, and the same lineup was used for the game against Nottingham Forest.

However, Harvey Elliott’s injury during the international break creates the possibility of an additional spot on the bench, which could present an opportunity for Chiesa. Curtis Jones, who is also expected to return from a fitness issue, might also be considered for the matchday squad.

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Liverpool get new update on Alexis Mac Allister’s injury as ‘minor issue’ report surfaces

Alexis Mac Allister is currently representing Argentina.

Mac Allister has participated in training with Argentina in preparation for their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Colombia. Despite experiencing discomfort in his adductor muscle during the international break, he played in La Albiceleste’s 3-0 win over Chile last week but was substituted in the 79th minute.

His condition has been closely monitored by Argentina’s medical team. Argentina will face Colombia tonight (21:30 BST), less than two months after their 1-0 victory in the Copa America final.

In their final training session in 32°C heat in Barranquilla, Mac Allister was present. According to Argentinean outlet Ole, this suggests that the 25-year-old “is fit to play against the Colombians.” Prior to the win over Chile, Mac Allister was reportedly “moving differently” during a session, but his injury from the match “was just a nuisance.”

Since joining Liverpool for £35 million from Brighton in July 2023, Mac Allister has been a key player, scoring seven goals and providing seven assists in 46 appearances during his first season at Anfield, helping the team win the Carabao Cup and secure a third-place finish in the Premier League.

This season, Mac Allister has been on the pitch for every minute of Liverpool’s three victories under new head coach Arne Slot.