Federico Chiesa is set to miss Wednesday’s Champions League match against Bologna. The Liverpool forward did not participate in training with Arne Slot’s squad on Tuesday, and the head coach confirmed during a pre-match press conference that Chiesa would not be available for the second game of the group stage.
“Federico trained with us yesterday, but he arrived today with some discomfort, so I don’t expect him to be in the lineup tomorrow,” Slot stated. “It’s disappointing, not only for the team but especially for him. He was eager to experience a Champions League night at Anfield, particularly against an Italian side.”
Slot added that while Chiesa’s absence is unfortunate, the forward is expected to have more opportunities in the future. “It’s a setback for now, but there will be many more Champions League nights for him,” the coach reassured.
When asked about the potential length of Chiesa’s absence, Slot explained, “It’s hard to say at this stage since the issue only arose yesterday. However, I don’t foresee him being out for an extended period. Unfortunately, this game comes too soon for him, but we’ll see if he can recover in time for Saturday’s match. After that, we have the international break.”
In addition to Chiesa, Diogo Jota also missed recent training sessions following Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League. Jota, who took a knock during the game, has not trained since Saturday.
Despite this, Slot is optimistic about Jota’s involvement in the Bologna clash. “Diogo missed two training sessions after the Wolves match due to a minor injury, but I expect him to be available tomorrow,” said Slot.
Liverpool will be hoping to manage these absences as they prepare for their upcoming Champions League fixture.
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