Chiesa finally given first Premier League start of 2025-26 against Wolves | OneFootball

Italy international Federico Chiesa has finally been called in for his first Premier League start of the 2025-26 campaign for Liverpool’s league match at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon.

Chiesa given Premier League opportunity for Liverpool vs. Wolves

The former Fiorentina and Juventus winger has struggled for first-team opportunities since moving to the Premier League last summer. He has started once in the English top flight, in a 3-2 defeat against Brighton in the penultimate game of 2024-25, when Liverpool had already mathematically won the title.

It took the Italian a while to settle in on Merseyside, and had struggled to work his way back up to full fitness for most of the campaign.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: Federico Chiesa of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St James’ Park on August 25, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

He has, however, impressed with his brief appearances off the bench in 2025-26, and is starting to become somewhat of a modern-day cult hero at Anfield.

Supporters, on numerous occasions this season, have called for Chiesa to be brought into the starting line-up. That opportunity has finally arrived against Wolves.

Mohamed Salah is away for the Africa Cup of Nations, Alexander Isak is injured and Cody Gakpo not fully fit, which means that the Chiesa is given the nod to start in attack along with Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike.