Sudden Training Blow: Arne Slot Confirms Winger a Major Doubt for Bournemouth Clash
Liverpool’s preparations for their Saturday trip to the Vitality Stadium have been hit by a late fitness scare. Head coach Arne Slot revealed in his pre-match press conference that Federico Chiesa is facing a race against time to be involved after a setback in training.
The Italian international, who has had a stop-start beginning to his career at Anfield, was initially named on the bench for the midweek Champions League victory over Marseille but was forced to withdraw at the eleventh hour.
“It Happened in Training”
Slot was candid about the situation, explaining that the issue surfaced just before the squad traveled to France.
> “I know we didn’t expect this to happen now, but in football, injury can come at any time,” Slot told reporters. “He had issues in training yesterday [Tuesday] and will not be available for tomorrow’s game.”
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While Slot initially ruled him out of the immediate midweek action, the update for the Bournemouth game remains precarious. Slot described Chiesa’s chances of featuring against the Cherries as “50-50,” noting that while the injury isn’t expected to be long-term, the quick turnaround is a significant hurdle.
Liverpool’s Growing Absentees
The timing is far from ideal for the Reds, who are looking to secure their first Premier League win of the new calendar year following a string of four consecutive draws. Slot is already navigating a squad thinned by several key absences:
* Ibrahima Konaté: Remains unavailable as he spends time with his family following the passing of his father.
* Alexander Isak: The star striker is sidelined until March with a leg fracture.
* Conor Bradley & Giovanni Leoni: Both are out for the long term with serious knee injuries.
The Silver Lining
It isn’t all bad news for the traveling Kop. Slot confirmed that Mohamed Salah came through the Marseille game unscathed after his return from AFCON duty. Additionally, Calvin Ramsay returns to the matchday squad, providing much-needed defensive depth.
With the Premier League title race tightening, Liverpool can ill-afford to drop more points on the South Coast. Whether Chiesa passes a late fitness test or not, the pressure is on the likes of Cody Gakpo and Luis Díaz to provide the clinical edge at the Vitality.
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