Federico Chiesa Out of Galatasaray Match; Slot Explains Absence
Italian international Federico Chiesa will not be available for Liverpool's UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash against Galatasaray, with manager Arne Slot clarifying the reasons behind the forward's latest setback.
The first leg of the tie is scheduled to take place in Istanbul on Tuesday.
Liverpool's traveling squad is not at full strength, as both Chiesa and former Roma goalkeeper Alisson Becker were left behind in England.
Chiesa's Continued Struggle for Playing Time
During his pre-match press conference, Coach Slot provided an update on Chiesa's condition: "Federico was not part of our session today. He felt unwell last night, which prevented him from training with us and subsequently traveling."
Regarding Alisson, the shot-stopper reportedly felt discomfort towards the end of a training session. The medical staff determined it was best for him to remain home for this fixture.
This recent illness adds to Chiesa's unfortunate history of injuries, which has significantly hindered his career and limited his availability.
Despite these challenges, the 28-year-old might still be considered for an international call-up by Gennaro Gattuso for Italy's 2026 World Cup play-offs later this month.
This season, Chiesa has accumulated 29 competitive appearances for Liverpool, contributing three goals and three assists. However, a notable point of concern is that he has started only five of those matches, indicating a persistent struggle for regular first-team starts.
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