Federico Chiesa finally opened his Premier League account for Liverpool while they defeated Bournemouth on Friday, after they were linked to an Anfield summer relocation
After scoring his first Premier League goal on Friday, Federico Chiesa expressed the wish to stay in Liverpool. The Italy International found the opportunities difficult to find in an injury-found first season, which led to speculation about a quick exit from Anfield.
Chiesa played only 104 minutes in the competition last season after he had become the first signing of Arne Slot to make his debut for the club. He just thought it was not in that period, but was on goal in the Carabao Cup final and in a FA Cup victory against Accrington Stanley.
The summer deviations of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez have left an opening on the left. Cody Gakpo started there for the Premier League opener against Bournemouth, where Florian Wirtz went to the left when Gakpo moved to the middle after the striker Hugo Ekitike had started.
After Bournemouth had drawn the level, Slot turned to Chiesa and raised him instead of signing records Wirtz with eight minutes to play. He only needed five to restore Liverpool's lead, giving his cool to the volley house after panic in the visitor box, with Mohamed Salah added a late fourth for Liverpool in stopping time.
Chiesa remained in Anfield in January despite the interest of Napoli, and there were suggestions that series had renewed an interest, was able to lure him away this summer. According to reports about the continent, however, the player and his agent have made it clear the higher UPS from Liverpool that he has no plans to go somewhere – a change in his feelings earlier in the window.
'As long as he is here [his future] Is absolutely in Liverpool and I have no reason to believe it will change, “said Liverpool Boss Slot after Friday's victory.” The fans sang so often for him last season and it is very nice for him to give them something back. “
Chiesa herself spoke about the help that the supporters of the home offered in the run -up to his goal … “Above all, it seems in the second half in the second half when you are attacking, as if the ball wants to go into the net,” he said.
It is not only Slot that Chiesa was happy to see his reward for a year of patience. The 27-year-old is very popular in the dressing room and came in for praise from teammates after Friday's victory.
“He works so hard, he is a great character, we all love him,” said Captain Virgil van Dijk. “Very happy for him. Especially one night like this where there are so many things in everyone's thoughts [after the tributes to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva]Because I can't escape that. I am happy for him, satisfied for the team. “
“For Federico who comes from the bank today, he is a special player for us who trains every day,” said goalkeeper Alisson about Chiesa. “Everyone knows that his situation was not that easy in the summer, but he continued to work hard and today he gets the reward for scoring the winner for us.”