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Off the back of a comfortable 4-1 Premier League victory over Ipswich Town, Liverpool’s sole focus will now return to the UEFA Champions League as they travel to the Philips Stadion, home of PSV Eindhoven for their final game of the League Phase, this Wednesday.

With seven wins out of seven, the Reds are already guaranteed a place inside the top two, alongside Barcelona, and just one point in the Netherlands will be enough to finish first.

Arne Slot confirmed his travelling squad on Tuesday, omitting several key players including Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker and Trent Alexander-Arnold, opting for heavy rotation with this match effectively a ‘dead rubber’ affair.

One key player who was named in the squad was Federico Chiesa and here, we will be assessing why he deserves a first European start for Liverpool tonight.

FITNESS ISSUES RESOLVED

Since Federico Chiesa’s arrival at Liverpool, he has struggled to maintain fitness levels.

The Italian had to wait almost three weeks to make his debut for the club, coming off the bench in the final stages of the UEFA Champions League opener away to AC Milan.

He then made his Premier League debut the following weekend, as a substitute, for eighteen minutes in a comfortable 3-0 victory over AFC Bournemouth.

Chiesa’s first Liverpool start came in a 5-1 Carabao Cup thrashing of West Ham United last September, a game in which he impressed the Anfield crowd, having some bright moments and provided the assist for Diogo Jota’s equaliser.

Since then, he has only featured for Liverpool twice, after a muscle injury meant the winger was sidelined for fourteen matches.

On his recent return to the matchday squad, Chiesa has often been an unused substitute in the Premier League and a lack of minutes had raised doubt over his future at the club.

But those rumours are now squashed with the Italian settled at Liverpool, and his fitness issues seemingly behind him.

IMPRESSIVE CAMEO APPEARANCES

In recent matches, Federico Chiesa has taken the opportunity when given to him by Arne Slot.

Slot opted to give the Italian forty-five minutes against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup, and he did not disappoint.

During just one half of football, he let off six attempts on goal, and was finally rewarded in the ninetieth minute when a long range strike hit the back of the net for Liverpool’s fourth and final goal of the game.

Federico Chiesa celebrates scoring first Liverpool goal in 4-0 thrashing of Accrington Stanley at Anfield?

Liverpool FC via Getty Images.

It was a first Liverpool goal, scoring at Anfield just like his father, Enrico, during the 1996 European Championships for Italy.

Chiesa also made an impact in the Reds’ 2-0 victory over Brentford, playing a key part in both Darwin Núñez goals that stole the points at the GTECH Community Stadium, now eleven days ago.

VIABLE UNDERSTOODY FOR MOHAMED SALAH

Federico Chiesa’s availability can now come as an advantage for Liverpool and it will benefit Arne Slot’s handling of Mohamed Salah’s game time.

Mo Salah has played a whopping 2,690 minutes so far this season, but has been given a deserved rest for Wednesday’s clash in Eindhoven, meaning Chiesa will most likely take the Egyptian’s spot.

Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda.

Liverpool’s use of Salah over the next few months will be crucial if they are to continue competing for all four trophies on offer, and Chiesa staying fit for a prolonged period will now give Slot more opportunities to rest his star man.

If Federico Chiesa can continue to make an impact and maintain fitness, then he can prove to be a reliable understoody for Salah.

The game away at PSV tonight may not be seen as pivotal for Liverpool but it will be another opportunity for Federico Chiesa to make his mark.

The Italian will be desperate to send a clear message to the Liverpool supporters and Arne Slot, that he can be a valuable asset during the second half of the season.

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