Liverpool’s Reset: Slot’s Quiet Work with Jones and Chiesa Offers Fresh Hope
As Liverpool’s players return from international duty, the focus turns back to Arne Slot and his work at Kirkby. The Dutchman has used this two-week pause not merely as a rest period, but as a vital opportunity to rebuild rhythm, confidence, and cohesion after a difficult run of results. For Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa in particular, this break may have been transformative.
Slot’s Tactical Reflection
It has been a testing start to life in English football for Arne Slot. Liverpool’s narrow defeat at Chelsea before the international break made it three successive losses — a run that has prompted questions about both structure and mentality. Insiders suggest that Slot and his coaching staff have spent the past 10 days reviewing every aspect of their approach, from defensive transitions to attacking combinations.
According to one club source, “Arne’s been meticulous — he’s gone through game footage with the players one by one, particularly those who’ve struggled for consistency or fitness.”
The AXA Training Centre has been busy despite the absence of Liverpool’s international contingent. Slot’s attention, however, was fixed on a trio who remained at home: Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones, and Federico Chiesa.
Jones Targets a Comeback
For Jones, the timing of this break could not have been better. Once seen as the next long-term midfield leader for both club and country, the Scouser has found himself on the periphery following an injury-hit spell. Sources close to the player have described this period as a “mental reset” — a chance to focus on sharpness, power, and positional understanding.
Under Lee Carsley and Thomas Tuchel, Jones had begun to establish himself in England’s midfield, even scoring on his debut against Greece last year. Yet his absence from recent squads reflects how much those setbacks have interrupted his development. Slot, though, remains a firm admirer.
“Curtis brings something we don’t have in abundance — the ability to drive the ball forward with real intent,” Slot reportedly told colleagues during a recent team briefing. “We need that vertical energy in midfield again.”
Chiesa’s Quiet Reinvention
Federico Chiesa’s Liverpool story is still waiting for lift-off. Signed from Juventus in the summer of 2024 amid much anticipation, the Italian international’s transition has been slowed by injury and tactical adjustment. Having played all four of Italy’s matches at Euro 2024, his absence from the Azzurri’s recent squad is telling — a reflection of his struggle to find rhythm and consistency.
Nevertheless, Slot is understood to be encouraged by what he’s seen in recent weeks. Chiesa has been involved in personalised sessions designed to rebuild match sharpness and confidence. A source within the club described the winger’s training displays as “explosive, focused and full of intent,” adding that “he looks determined to reclaim his place.”
Internal Solutions Emerging
Liverpool’s current squad issues — Ibrahima Konaté’s fitness concerns, Alexis Mac Allister’s fluctuating form, and the need for attacking variation — have forced Slot to consider internal solutions. Both Gomez and Jones provide tactical flexibility, while Chiesa’s directness offers something different in the final third.
Those who watched training this week noted a renewed intensity. Slot himself has been more vocal, driving home his demands for pressing discipline and attacking precision. For the first time since the season began, Liverpool have enjoyed uninterrupted tactical sessions — a luxury the manager is eager to make count.
As one senior figure at the club put it: “This is the kind of work you can’t do when you’re playing every three days. It’s been a chance to reset, refine and reconnect.”
Liverpool’s upcoming fixtures will test whether these quieter days at Kirkby have delivered lasting improvement. For Jones, Chiesa and Slot alike, it could mark the beginning of a new phase — one defined by trust, rhythm, and opportunity.
