Federico Chiesa Can Take on Harvey Elliott’s Role | OneFootball

Federico Chiesa Can Take on Harvey Elliotts Role

The unfortunate news arising from the AXA Training Centre on Wednesday morning, notified the concerned Liverpool fanbase that their charismatic attacking midfielder, Harvey Elliott, will indeed be out of action until late October at the earliest. Following a deserved call up to the England under-21 squad for this international break, his initial training session with the underage group ended with a worrying injury, leading to a hasty return to Merseyside and his club doctors. A subsequent scan and medical assessment have since shown that the 21-year-old has sustained a fractured foot and will therefore miss the early autumn section of the season. Having already struggled to force his way into the early first team plans of his new Head Coach, Arne Slot, this new set back could not have come at a worse time for the ambitious talent, one that would have been working tirelessly to make an impression.

How Will the Injury Affect Selection for the Reds…?

As with many unfortunate circumstances in the footballing world, the creation of opportunity is sometimes offered (to others) to equalise against the complaint. Though the scenario which sees the former Fulham academy graduate, Harvey Elliott, out of action for a lengthy spell, it has opened the door that bit more wider for Italy forward, Federico Chiesa. The £10m signing of the former Juventus attacker is still a transaction that astounds me, given the £80m rating only a few years ago.

As a versatile and tenacious specimen, the former Fiorentina player has evidently chosen Liverpool as the most appropriate setting to re-launch his once world-class trajectory. Despite his own injury issues in the recent past, the 26-year-old has already undertaken his rehabilitation year (with his previous club) and his now primed to recapture the form which once captivated Serie A and the rest of the watching world. As an asset that is equally adept in all four attacking positions, I held the hope that a hybrid role between the no.10 and either left- or right-wing positions would be awarded to the son of Enrico Chiesa. As a powerful runner and direct natured player, he perhaps offers a little more thrust than his young teammate, Harvey, who he will now have the chance to leap frog in the Anfield pecking order. The need for adaptation is critical for success, which leads me to look to what could become, rather than that which has sadly transpired.

Is Federico Chiesa Likely to Make His Debut This Weekend…?

I do not envisage a scenario where the former Feyenoord manager, Arne Slot, will hold back his new attacking weapon for too long. I suspect that with certain individuals having undertaken long journeys to and from Liverpool (this past fortnight), there will be a need for smart mild rotation in this next batch of games. This coming Saturday will see Nottingham Forest arrive at Anfield, a week before Bournemouth make that exact same trip to the home of the illustrious title challengers. Sandwiched in between those two home Premier League games is a trip to the San Siro, where the reds will kick off their 2024/25 Champions League campaign against an old foe, AC Milan. Just a week after that tantalizing Italian job will see Virgil van Dijk and his men entertain West Ham in the third round of the EFL Cup. The end of the internationals now offers the first stretch of the long season, with a new raft of obstacles to overcome.

Following the opening three games of Liverpool‘s Premier League campaign, the only alteration to the starting lineup has seen Ibrahima Konaté displace Jarell Quansah in the middle game of those encounters, before deservedly holding onto his place. There was absolutely no need for the new decision makers to implement any rotation within a winning start to the campaign, however, the upcoming two-week period and beyond will see most senior players begin to see their own involvement increase. Given that upcoming trip to face the Italian giants, AC Milan, I would expect the reds newly appointed no.14, Federico Chiesa, to be a starting piece for that away game. To better prepare the 51-cap Italy international, I can imagine a cameo appearance will be presented to him at the weekend against visiting Forest. With a sublime skillet to match his work rate and endeavour, it is an exciting time to imagine the long-term Liverpool target finally making his debut for his new club. The need to rest Mohamed Salah now a reality, especially after the injuries encountered last year. Questions marks over the appropriateness of the diminutive Elliott were valid, however, that alteration will now see a different body brought forward.

Though the moment is clearly a sad one for young Harvey Elliott, it has increased the importance of the reds Italian capture, who could explode in the coming days and solidify his role in this exciting regeneration.