Liverpool have a NEW winger | OneFootball

Liverpool now have a new winger on the left-flank who could replace Luis Diaz.

When the Colombian left in the summer, the Reds made the bold choice not to replace him. Richard Hughes had options. Bradley Barcola and Malick Fofana were among them.

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In the end, Liverpool decided to trust what they already have. They wanted to create a pathway for Rio Ngumoha, who in fairness to him has shone every single time he has made an appearance for the Reds.

However, can Liverpool really rely on a 17-year-old as a back-up option behind Cody Gakpo as they try to compete for the Premier League and Champions League? Is that sustainable and even wise? Especially to heap such pressure on a young man's shoulders.

Well, there may be a solution. Arne Slot may have unleashed a 'new' winger recently who could provide a back-up option to Ngumoha and Gakpo.

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You see, Ngumoha and Gakpo are not the only players who are left-wingers by trade.

Against Southampton, we saw a glimpse of Federico Chiesa in that position. The Italian has played a lot of his career on the left for Juventus and Fiorentina but at Anfield, he's mostly been used through the middle.

Especially, in pre-season and this campaign so far. When Chiesa has come on, he has been playing in the centre of the park, either as a false nine or as an attacking midfielder.

This is a role he can play really well, but it's not the only role.

Against Southampton after Danns was introduced for Ngumoha, Chiesa went to play on the left for the last 20 or so minutes of the game.

Arguably, he had his best moments playing there. The Italian looked like his pre-ACL injury self, making explosive runs and terrorising the Southampton defence.

It was his speed and his burst into the box that ultimately saw Liverpool salvage a victory when he played in Hugo Ekitike for a tap-in to record his second assist of the match.

Slot has often shunned away from using Chiesa on the left-wing. But after that performance it's hard to argue the fact that he wouldn't at least be worth a punt.

Liverpool cannot rely on Gakpo and Ngumoha alone. Slot needed to rotate the latter with Diaz last season in order to be successful.

This time around, he might need to do the same with Chiesa. After Southampton, the Reds might have just found themselves a 'new' winger.