CHIESA FACES INJURY SETBACK

Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa has suffered a muscular injury that will deny him his first Champions League night at Anfield and could potentially keep him sidelined until the international break. The Italian, who was a £10 million summer signing from Juventus, is set to miss Wednesday’s game against Bologna and remains a doubt for Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace.

Chiesa’s absence is a particular blow given his excitement about playing against an Italian team at Anfield, a sentiment shared by Liverpool manager Arne Slot. “It is a pity for us and even more for him,” Slot remarked. “He was looking forward to a Champions League night at Anfield, especially against an Italian team, but there will be many more. I am not expecting him to be out for a long time, and we have to see if he will be able to be in the game on Saturday.”

The setback comes just as Chiesa was beginning to settle into the Liverpool squad. He has made three appearances since his arrival, with his only start coming in last week’s impressive 5-1 win over West Ham. Despite the injury, Liverpool is hopeful that the problem is not too serious and that Chiesa will be back on the pitch soon.

In more positive news for Liverpool, striker Diogo Jota, who also missed training after taking a knock in the match against Wolves, is expected to recover in time for the game against Bologna. Slot provided an update, stating: “Diogo missed two sessions after the game against Wolves. He took a knock, but I am expecting him to be with us and available to play.”

Meanwhile, Chiesa’s teammate Alexis Mac Allister has expressed confidence in the impact the Italian forward will have once he returns to full fitness. “From the day he arrived, you could see how happy he is to be here, and that is already a very important thing,” said Mac Allister. “He is showing how good he is, we expect a lot from him, he will be very important for us, and I am pretty sure he is going to do well here.”

Chiesa’s energy and talent have already been evident in his limited appearances, and his teammates believe he will prove to be a key player for Liverpool this season. Though his injury is a setback, the hope is that it will not hinder his progress for long, with the club optimistic about his swift return.