Federico Chiesa to Liverpool: Tactical Breakdown, Why Arne Slot Wants to Bring the Italian Winger to Anfield

Arne Slot’s first transfer window as Liverpool manager has been notably quiet. The Reds have yet to secure their first signing under their new boss. Although the transfer of Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili seems imminent, the Georgian is expected to remain on loan at his current club for the rest of the season.

This leaves the possibility that Federico Chiesa could be the first player to debut under Slot—a scenario that would have seemed unlikely just a few months ago.

Chiesa, whose contract with Juventus expires at the end of this season, has been deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Thiago Motta. He wasn’t included in any of their pre-season squads and was absent from Juventus’ opening Serie A match.

The Italian winger was a key figure in Roberto Mancini’s Euro 2020-winning squad and even made the team of the tournament. However, his rise in the football world has been hampered by a series of injuries, most notably an ACL tear in early 2022.

Despite this, when a player of Chiesa’s caliber becomes available at a bargain price—reportedly around £13 million—savvy clubs pay attention. Liverpool is one of those clubs showing interest in the Juventus star.

Why is Liverpool Interested in Bringing Chiesa to Anfield?

One of Chiesa’s most impressive attributes is his versatility. He excels in any position across the front three and was particularly effective on the right wing during Italy’s Euro 2020 campaign.

The positional map of Chiesa’s time at Juventus showcases his ability to cover multiple roles. While he primarily played as a second striker in Turin, he is equally adept as a winger on either flank and has even been deployed as a wing-back in specific formations.

This versatility makes Chiesa an appealing option for Liverpool, as he could potentially provide cover for any of their front five: Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota, Darwin Núñez, and Luis Díaz.

Liverpool’s second-half success against Ipswich on Matchday 1 was largely due to their ability to isolate their wingers against the Ipswich full-backs. Both goals stemmed from Salah exploiting space behind left-back Leif Davis, assisting Jota’s opener before scoring himself.

This tactic plays into one of Chiesa’s key strengths: his ability to beat defenders one-on-one. In his last two seasons—his first full seasons after an ACL tear—the Italian has averaged 4.5 take-ons per 90 minutes, a figure only surpassed by Díaz (5.3) among Liverpool’s current attackers.

Chiesa’s dribbling ability isn’t just about getting past opponents; it also leads to tangible results. Over the same period, he has created 11 chances following a take-on, more than any other player at Juventus or Liverpool. He also led Juventus in shooting opportunities created (either taking the shot himself or setting up a chance) after carrying the ball forward. It’s worth noting that some of this time saw him deployed as a wing-back, which would typically limit his opportunities to take on opponents.

As the map of his chance-creating carries below illustrates, Chiesa’s direct dribbling threat can emerge from either flank.

As Liverpool shift slightly from Jürgen Klopp’s high-intensity approach toward a more controlled style of play, having a player like Chiesa, who can beat defenders and create chances against low defensive blocks, could be highly valuable. Additionally, in situations where Liverpool can launch counter-attacks, his ability to carry the ball at speed would be a significant asset to the forward line.

However, Chiesa isn’t a prolific goal-scorer. He netted 10 goals in all competitions for Juventus last season, with his best season coming in 2020-21, when he scored 14 goals.

Throughout his Serie A career at Juventus, Chiesa has averaged a goal every three games—a solid, if unspectacular, rate for a winger or supporting forward. This is comparable to Díaz, who has averaged 0.32 goals per 90 minutes in the Premier League for Liverpool but falls short of Salah (0.68), Jota (0.64), Núñez (0.48), and Gakpo (0.43).

Yet, aside from Salah, Chiesa offers more creativity than the rest of Liverpool’s attacking options. In the 2023-24 season, Chiesa averaged 2.2 chances created per 90 minutes in Serie A and recorded 0.23 expected assists per 90—both of which were the highest for Juventus and would place him second among Liverpool’s current front five.

Federico Chiesa’s Work Rate and Value as a Squad Player

Chiesa’s work rate is another key attribute that fits seamlessly with Slot’s expectations. Out of possession, both Slot and Klopp share a commitment to pressing high and regaining possession quickly.

In Serie A last season, where Chiesa spent 81% of his minutes as a second striker, he averaged 36.7 high-intensity pressures per 90 minutes. This ranked him second among Juventus’ forwards and attacking midfielders. His high-intensity pressure map below illustrates his willingness to put in the hard work across all areas of the pitch.

Given Chiesa’s extensive injury history, it’s reasonable to expect that his role at Liverpool would primarily be that of a squad player, stepping in to manage the minutes of Liverpool’s primary attackers.

However, having a 26-year-old European champion as a squad option is a significant advantage. His ability to outmaneuver opponents in one-on-one situations, his vision for creating chances, and his skill in tight spaces would introduce a valuable new dimension to Liverpool’s attack.

At the reported transfer fee, it represents a low-risk gamble for Liverpool, allowing them to add a player of considerable quality to an already impressive forward line.

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