Federico Chiesa Return Date Revealed as Liverpool Forward Targets Comeback

Federico Chiesa is reportedly targeting a return to Liverpool training before the end of September, offering Andoni Iraola another attacking option as the new head coach continues to shape his squad.

According to the Daily Mail, the Italian hopes to resume training in late September following a muscle problem. Chiesa has yet to feature this season after initially suffering a back injury during Liverpool’s final pre-season friendly against Como.

Chiesa Eyes Fresh Opportunity Under Iraola

The timing matters for a player whose Liverpool career has struggled to gather momentum. Chiesa was linked with a return to Serie A during the summer, yet remained at Anfield and had been involved in Iraola’s pre-season plans before injury intervened.

His comments in July made his intentions clear.

“Right now, at the moment, I am happy here at Liverpool. I love the club, I love the fans, I love everything.

“I am doing the best I can to have a chance here – and then we will see. “At the minute, the only thing I am thinking about is Liverpool.”

For Chiesa, Iraola’s arrival provided another opportunity to establish himself.

Chiesa added: “I don’t know – it is difficult to say. It is always a fresh start at the beginning of the year. “Maybe there have been too many fresh starts.

“But I don’t care, I am trying to do my best for this new manager. Last season under Arne Slot, I was trying to do my best too.

“Last year, I felt ready for a bigger role, then it depended on the coach whether he wanted me to play or not. Of course I wanted to play more but it is what it is.

“The gaffer decided to do so, he had his gameplans, he took his decisions, I have nothing to say about that. It is football. This year, let us say it is a new chapter. There is a new manager and I have to focus on that.”

Liverpool Role Remains Unclear

Chiesa started only once in the Premier League last season, finishing the 2025/26 campaign with three goals and three assists from 36 appearances across all competitions.

His situation has become more intriguing following Mohamed Salah’s departure. Chiesa can operate naturally from the right, although Liverpool strengthened their attacking options during the summer with Bradley Barcola and Victor Munoz.

There is also the significant matter of Europe. Chiesa was omitted from Liverpool’s Champions League squad alongside Wataru Endo, limiting his opportunities during the first half of the campaign.

January Could Shape Chiesa Future

Getting Chiesa fit again now becomes the immediate priority. A late-September return to training would potentially give Iraola another option during a demanding domestic schedule.

What happens after that will depend upon opportunities and performances.

Liverpool remain interested in adding further depth in January, meaning the next few months could prove particularly important for Chiesa. After a Liverpool career characterised by interrupted momentum, the Italian finally needs the sustained run of fitness that would allow him to make his case on the pitch.

Our View

From a Liverpool perspective, this feels like encouraging news. Chiesa has never really had the opportunity to build any sustained rhythm at Anfield, and there remains a feeling that Liverpool have barely seen what he can offer.

His numbers last season were modest, although 36 appearances can give a misleading impression when only one of those was a Premier League start. There is a considerable difference between being involved regularly and receiving consistent minutes in a defined role.

That makes Iraola’s arrival interesting.

Chiesa’s July comments suggested a player determined to embrace another opportunity, and Liverpool could certainly use additional options on the right following Salah’s departure. Barcola and Munoz give Iraola alternatives across the attacking positions, but Chiesa possesses experience, direct running and the natural ability to operate from that flank.

Being omitted from the Champions League squad is obviously a setback, yet it could also create opportunities domestically. Liverpool have league and cup football to navigate, and squad depth will become increasingly important as the season develops.

The biggest requirement is fitness. Chiesa needs several uninterrupted weeks of training before anyone can realistically judge where he fits into Iraola’s Liverpool.

If he returns before the end of September and stays available, supporters may finally get the chance to see whether that much discussed fresh start can actually become something meaningful.