Arne Slot sends clear Federico Chiesa message as Liverpool weigh up loan deals

Arne Slot was impressed with Federico Chiesa's first 90 minutes for over six months during Liverpool's Champions League clash against PSV Eindhoven

Federico Chiesa is ready to make a bigger impact in the Premier League according to Arne Slot. But the Liverpool head coach warned the Italian continues to face intense competition for a place in the Reds’ attack.

The 27-year-old made his second start for Liverpool away at PSV Eindhoven in midweek and played a part in both Reds goals as they fell to a 3-2 defeat. The match would mark his first full 90 minute appearance since representing Italy as they were knocked out of Euro 2024 by Switzerland in the round of 16 last summer.

Slot paid tribute to Chiesa and Liverpool’s performance staff for getting the forward back into a position where he can play full 90 minutes following a difficult first half-season at Anfield.

But he also warned the forward that being available is not enough alone to force his way into the Reds’ line-up.

“Yeah, of course he’s ready for more minutes in the Premier League,” he said. “Because if you can play 90 at Champions League level, you are able to play an amount of minutes in the Premier League.

“His main problem, if you want to call it a problem, is that he is in competition with Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo, Mo Salah and Diogo Jota. I think you agree with me that they are doing quite well also.

“But it is very good for us, I think it was six or seven months ago against Switzerland where they lost in the Euros, was the last time he played 90 minutes.

“So it’s very good from him but definitely also from our performance staff that we, during training sessions, got him to the point that he is able to play 90 minutes without a lot of friendlies.

“So a big compliment for him, how hard he worked, and for the performance and medical staff as well.”

Meanwhile, Slot confirmed that Liverpool will delay making a decision on whether Jayden Danns and James McConnell can leave the club on loan until the very end of the transfer window.

“These are also ongoing discussions we have,” he said. “You know how it is in football. Yesterday can be different from today and tomorrow.

“I can give you a certain answer now and then if I leave the training pitch and we have three injuries in the training session, it’s going to be a different answer.

“It’s a process we are discussing a lot about and these decisions will be made, will be pushed until the end of the window which is almost there.”