Federico Chiesa is poised to make his debut start for Liverpool in the upcoming EFL Cup third-round showdown against West Ham at Anfield tomorrow night.
The Italian international, who joined from Juventus in the summer, featured as a second-half substitute in the 3-0 victory over Bournemouth last weekend. However, he is expected to be included in the starting lineup as manager Arne Slot rotates the squad for the clash with the Hammers.
Slot mentioned, “I don’t think he’s ready for a full 90 minutes. He has had limited playing time in the past few months. Although he hasn’t participated in any friendlies at Juventus, we believe he is ready to start for us.”
Caoimhin Kelleher will retain his spot in goal in the absence of the injured Alisson, who may make a return for the weekend fixture.
“Caoimhin will start in goal on Wednesday,” Slot confirmed. “Alisson is progressing well, but I think he might not be ready for this match. We are aiming for his return against Wolves this weekend, but it’s a tight schedule.”
“We will field our strongest team possible, considering some players might be fatigued. I will assess the situation and make the necessary changes,” Slot added.
Our last @Carabao_Cup fixture… 🤩 pic.twitter.com/3Jg0y6LLQR
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 23, 2024
Slot’s Desire to Defend the Title
Liverpool clinched the EFL Cup last season, marking their final trophy under Jurgen Klopp. Slot expressed his eagerness to replicate that success.
“Winning trophies is not only cherished by the fans, but also by the players and managers,” he stated. “We all aspire to achieve something significant, but we must focus on winning the upcoming game against West Ham first, which won’t be an easy task.”
“I understand the club’s rich history and the significance of winning a cup. We face a tough challenge against West Ham, but it’s a match we are looking forward to,” Slot concluded.