“50/50” – Arne Slot provides injury update ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Bournemouth | OneFootball

Liverpool receive Federico Chiesa injury update ahead of Bournemouth

Liverpool head into their upcoming Premier League fixture against Bournemouth with uncertainty surrounding Federico Chiesa, after the Italian winger was forced out of the matchday squad moments before kick-off against Marseille.

Chiesa had been named among the substitutes for the Champions League tie at the Orange Velodrome, but ultimately took no part in the 3-0 win. The late withdrawal raised immediate concerns, particularly given the forward’s limited availability this season under Arne Slot.

Liverpool later confirmed that the issue stemmed from an injury sustained during the pre match warm-up, although the root of the problem had actually appeared a day earlier in training.

Arne Slot explains training ground setback

Speaking after the Marseille victory, Slot offered clarity on how the situation unfolded and why Chiesa still travelled with the squad.

“Two or three minutes after you guys left yesterday, he stepped out of the training session,” Slot explained. “We took him with us because we don’t expect it to be a long-term injury. We thought it was good for him to have his treatment over here and we were hoping he would have been fit in time. But he wasn’t”.

Photo: IMAGO

Slot also confirmed that Chiesa attempted to play through the discomfort during the warm-up but quickly realised it was not possible.

“He tried in the warm-up and he wasn’t able to play. That’s why he wasn’t on the bench”.

For Liverpool, it was a precautionary call, but one that again highlights how fragile Chiesa’s campaign has been.

Federico Chiesa role under Arne Slot

The 28 year old has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter, making just four Premier League starts so far. Most of his contributions have come from the bench, often used as an impact option rather than a core part of Slot’s attacking structure.

Liverpool’s medical staff have been managing his workload carefully, particularly with a growing injury list that already includes Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni. Chiesa’s absence, even for a single match, reduces rotation options in wide areas, where Liverpool rely heavily on intensity and pressing.

Slot has previously spoken about the importance of rhythm for attacking players, and Chiesa has yet to enjoy a sustained run of matches to build that consistency.

Bournemouth availability remains uncertain

Slot provided a further update during his press conference ahead of the Bournemouth clash, keeping expectations deliberately cautious.

“As I said, Federico wasn’t able to be on the bench on Wednesday, there was a recovery session yesterday… so we have to wait and see.”

“Difficult for me to say whether he’s available for Bournemouth. 50/50 whether he’s available.”

The Liverpool manager did at least confirm that no new injuries were picked up against Marseille, offering some relief across the squad.

“Nobody picked up a knock or problem after the game so I expect all same players to be available and Calvin Ramsay is available after not being available for CL.”

For now, Chiesa remains a doubt rather than a certainty. Liverpool will hope the issue proves minor, but with a congested fixture schedule and a title defence to manage, Arne Slot is unlikely to take unnecessary risks with a player who has already endured a stop start season.