Federico Chiesa is now EMBARRASSING people | OneFootball

Liverpool have a major decision to make here as Federico Chiesa is embarrassing people. The Italian’s numbers are off the charts.

Liverpool signed Federico Chiesa back in August 2024 - the only first-team signing made in Richard Hughes' first summer as sporting director. Of course, it was also Arne Slot's first season in charge.

Slot proceeded not to use Chiesa much at all, giving him 108 Premier League minutes all season. One of those was a start, meaning the Italian was a complete non-factor as Liverpool won the Premier League.

It looked absolutely certain that he'd move on in the summer for regular first-team football. Only, he didn't.

Chiesa instead decided to remain at Anfield and fight for a first-team place at a club that didn't appear to want him. It's about as big a gamble as a player could make, especially in a World Cup year.

To say he's making people eat his words is an understatement.

Federico Chiesa's numbers

Here's a figure for you: Federico Chiesa has played just shy of 200 total Premier League minutes since joining Liverpool. In that time, he's scored twice and assisted once.

That's a great return for limited minutes, of course. But even greater is the effect he has on Liverpool's attack.

The Reds have now scored 12 (twelve) times in the minutes Chiesa has been on the pitch in the Premier League. Liverpool are four goals better off than opponents this season with the Italian on the pitch.

You won't be shocked to learn that no one else comes close to this figure. Chiesa has such an unbelievably positive effect on the team that it's quite ridiculous.

And the 'small sample' argument against the effect doesn't really cut it anymore. Liverpool score pretty much every time Chiesa is subbed onto the pitch.

It happened against Manchester United on Sunday, of course. He even got the assist for it. He came on and scored against Crystal Palace, only for Liverpool to then give up a winner.

There was the winning goal against Bournemouth, too. Chiesa was also brought on ahead of late winners against Newcastle United, Arsenal and Burnley.

His one start this season, coming in the Carabao Cup, saw him assist both goals in a 2-1 win.

So to recap - Liverpool were either losing or drawing in every game Chiesa was brought in on this season. The Reds either went on to score a winner (once through Chiesa himself) or scored an equaliser directly through the winger. Though, on both latter occasions they would subsequently give up a winner through a set-piece.

The effect Chiesa is having on the team is so unbelievably clear that it now looks embarrassing that he doesn't play more. He's yet to even get 20 minutes in a Premier League fixture this season, despite being more effective than any other attacking player.