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Chiesa’s New Role and the Slot System

For all the chaos and heartbreak of this summer, the first signs of restructuring under Arne Slot are beginning to show. Liverpool’s 3–1 win over Preston in their opening pre-season friendly may not offer sweeping conclusions, but it did provide a few subtle indicators of what’s to come — none more intriguing than Federico Chiesa operating as a central striker, or at least a rotation piece in that role.

A player historically used on either wing, the 27-year-old Italian has seen his career trajectory disrupted by injuries and inconsistency since bursting onto the scene with a blistering Euro 2020 campaign. At Juventus, his talent never fully aligned with the club’s direction and he eventually departed with a desire to reinvent himself. At Liverpool, the raw ability remains, but the question has always been: where does he fit? After a sporadic first season on Merseyside and minimal appearances, the question rolls around again about whether he is suited to the reigning Premier League champions.

Slot’s tactical structure requires a high work rate, positional fluidity, and intelligent pressing triggers. Chiesa, if fit and focused, can offer all of that with a wealth of heritage and experience. And now, with Alexander Isak seemingly earmarked as the starting No. 9 and Rodrygo being lined up to flank him, a central support role could suit Chiesa far more than expected. His bursts of pace, ability to combine in tight spaces, and instinctive finishing have always hinted at a more interior attacking presence. The Preston match may have been a low-stakes affair, but it quietly pointed to what could be his clearest path to meaningful minutes this season.

Post-Jota Reverence and a New Squad Reality

The tragic passing of Diogo Jota just two weeks ago continues to cast a long emotional shadow over the club. His death in a car accident has not only shaken the squad, but it has also fundamentally altered Liverpool’s plans. For nearly a fortnight, Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes halted all transactions out of respect — a moment of silence in the hyperactive world of football.

But reality, as ever, resumes. And with Jota gone, Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez set for sales, and Harvey Elliott likely heading to West Ham for £50m, Liverpool’s forward department is undergoing a clear revolution. Isak and Rodrygo are top of the recruitment wish list, both commanding enormous fees and arriving with expectations to match. But beneath that top layer of elite additions lies the need for structure, reliability and rotation. Florian Wirtz is also an elite addition that will be immersed in the final third, one that could harness limitless potential.

Chiesa may not be the long-term starter, but he could be exactly the kind of squad asset the new Liverpool needs. He’ll have a full preseason under Slot, an opportunity to stay injury-free, and a far more clearly defined role than he ever had at Juventus. Importantly, he won’t require a new bedding-in period or a massive investment. At a time when value and readiness are everything, he becomes less a luxury and more a logical inclusion.

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Undervalued, Underrated, and Potentially Essential

There’s a tendency in modern football to write players off far too quickly, especially within these frenetic windows of change. Chiesa was once considered among Europe’s most explosive forwards and rightly so. That ceiling hasn’t vanished completely — it’s just been obscured by circumstance and bad luck. A central role at Liverpool could strip away the external noise and allow him to focus on what he does best: attacking space, linking play, and unsettling defences with direct movement.

In a season that will be physically demanding and emotionally charged, Liverpool needs players they can trust — not just in talent but in mentality. Chiesa may no longer carry the star aura of old, but in this newly constructed squad, his combination of experience, humility, and versatility makes him almost tailor-made for a rotation-heavy, title-contending group. He also offers immediate alteration opportunities to Mohamed Salah, who will be required to join Egypt in the next African Cup of Nations tournament.

Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes are not sentimental men — their strategy is rooted in hard logic and value optimisation. Keeping Chiesa as a flexible attacking option may not have been the original plan, but in light of recent events and shifting priorities, it now feels like a smart, grounded decision. To add one more thing to the list of objectives that can be averted by an in-house asset who has everything still to prove as a Red.

And if this season is truly about chasing title number 21, then Liverpool will need players like Federico Chiesa — not just to start games, but to finish them with purpose.

 

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