Arne Slot drops intriguing Federico Chiesa hint ahead of Merseyside derby

The Liverpool boss said (via liverpoolfc.com): “The best thing [would be] that Hugo was still fit, but if he wasn’t, then if this would have happened then two or three weeks later would have been better because Alex is not ready for 90 yet – depending on the intensity of the game, by the way, because you never know how a game is going to work out.

“He’s getting closer and closer and now we need him, but there are different options to play as a No.9 as well. Federico Chiesa is also one of them so there are different options, but it’s definitely good to have Alex back now Hugo is injured.”

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Could Chiesa get some much-needed game-time on Sunday?

With Isak not deemed ready to play the full match on Sunday and Jayden Danns also ruled out, Slot will be compelled to deploy a makeshift centre-forward for a portion of the Merseyside derby – could Chiesa be an improbable candidate for that task?

The Italian has played centrally on occasion for Liverpool, but usually a last-gasp substitute – a notable exception was his 77-minute outing against Brighton in the FA Cup in February (Transfermarkt).

The 28-year-old has continued to be at best a bit-part player for the Reds this season, with four of his five starts coming in much-changed line-ups in the domestic cups, and he hasn’t played more than 15 minutes in a Premier League game since the win over Wolves just after Christmas (Transfermarkt).

A cult hero among Kopites, Chiesa hasn’t quite made the impact on the pitch that he’d have been hoping for when he joined from Juventus two years ago.

However, if he’s given the chance on Sunday to write his own Divock Origi moment in Merseyside derby folklore and duly does so, that contribution could go a long way towards Liverpool hopefully securing a Champions League place for next season.