Liverpool boss Arne Slot has confirmed that Federico Chiesa will now be included in the club’s Champions League squad following the devastating injury suffered by Giovanni Leoni.Leoni, who only arrived from Parma in a £26m move last month, endured a nightmare debut when he sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Southampton in the Carabao Cup. The 18-year-old centre-back faces up to a year on the sidelines, leaving the Reds short of defensive cover with Joe Gomez the only senior alternative to Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté.While the setback is a crushing one for Leoni, it has opened the door for Chiesa to return to European competition. The Italian forward had initially been left out of the squad but will now be drafted back in under UEFA rules that allow long-term injured players to be replaced.“Leoni has torn his ACL and will be out for about a year,” Slot explained. “It’s a terrible situation, especially when you’ve just joined a new club and impressed so early. But he’s still young and has many years ahead of him.”When asked if Chiesa would be reinstated, the Dutchman confirmed the club are making the necessary changes: “If a player is ruled out for more than two months, it is possible to replace him. That’s what we are doing.”Chiesa, who joined Liverpool from Juventus last summer, endured a mixed first campaign at Anfield and was even linked with a move away during the last transfer window. However, he has made a brighter start this season. He scored a late goal in the 4-2 win over Bournemouth on opening day and impressed with two assists in the recent Carabao Cup clash, setting up Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.Slot praised the winger’s commitment after that performance:
“What I want to see is players giving everything. Federico worked the hardest, stayed involved, and that’s why he had a big influence on both goals.”For Chiesa, the unexpected squad reshuffle could be the lifeline he needs to re-establish himself on Europe’s biggest stage.
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