Liverpool manager Arne Slot challenges new signing to prove he deserves playing time after slow start

Since Arne Slot's arrival last summer, the Italian player has been the sole addition to Liverpool's squad after joining from Juventus.

Chiesa's move to Liverpool last August for £10 million was hampered by his lack of fitness upon arrival.

He has seen limited Premier League action, totalling just 41 minutes, due to an injury-stricken season. 

Slot insisted Chiesa has a future at Liverpool, emphasising the player's qualities and potential contributions to the team. 

According to Daily Mail, he said, “Does he have a future here? Yes, definitely he has, yes. Definitely. I think everyone playing for us over here has a future over here.

“Next season, if he comes back completely fit, which he has hardly been for the first half-season but then afterwards he became fitter and fitter. The next steps should have been playing time, which I couldn't give him.

“But I can give him playing time in pre-season, so he can build himself up and then go even further.

“That was also one of the things, if you do so well – and it was the same with (Ibrahima) Konate and Virgil (Van Dijk) – some people say maybe you should rest one or two once in a while.

“I know for sure the chance of winning when I play them both is particularly high. So why would I take the risk of rotating? But yeah, pre-season gives (Chiesa and other fringe players) the chance to show themselves again.

“In terms of the quality he has, he deserves more playing time but unfortunately for him he's in competition with Mo Salah. On the left, it's competition with Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz. Three players who have had a great season.

“He was not as fit as the others for a long time. That doesn't help in the beginning. Then the others did so well there's no reason to change. Is he good enough to play for us? Yes he is. But I've always felt Lucho, Cody and Mo deserved the confidence I had in them.”