December has been an unusual month for Arne Slot, but Liverpool’s return to league play brings optimism with key players nearing a comeback.
Ahead of the Fulham match, Slot discussed the availability of Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa, stating:
“I believe they are [available]. We still have one training session left. Federico has been out for a long time and was ill last week, so we need to assess his recovery.
Diogo might be in the squad, and Federico could also be, depending on his condition after the illness and the numbers.”
Regarding Chiesa’s situation, Slot commented:
“The issue is the volume of games we’re playing. He needs minutes to get match fit, but after being out for five or six months, it’s tough to give him those without knowing exactly what to expect.
Ideally, he’d play in a friendly or U21 match, but our schedule doesn’t allow that. The Southampton game might be a good chance for him to get some minutes.”
Slot pointed out the difficulty of reintegrating players like Chiesa into a tight schedule, adding:
“Training is not the same as match fitness. Ideally, we’d give him time in games where we’re leading comfortably, but those opportunities have been rare this season. For now, it’s about managing his return carefully.”
The possible return of Jota and Chiesa is a significant boost to Liverpool’s attacking options. Both players’ involvement in training is promising, and Chiesa has already demonstrated his readiness with a goal for the U21s.
However, Slot remains cautious about rushing their comebacks to avoid setbacks.
The potential return of six attacking options is a welcome development for Liverpool, but careful management will be essential to maintain their long-term fitness.
