“He has an incredible talent” - Ex-Premier League coach backs 26-year-old star to shine at Liverpool 

Former Premier League manager Paulo Sousa believes Federico Chiesa will be a big signing for Liverpool. He heaped praise on the winger, hailing his talent despite injury issues.

The Merseysiders signed Chiesa from Juventus for a reported fee of €12 million plus add-ons earlier this summer. It could potentially be a huge bargain considering his talent and potential. There are, however, doubts about his injury record and form after the ACL injury he suffered in 2021.

Sousa, who gave Chiesa his senior debut in 2016 for Fiorentina, has backed the Italian winger to do well at Anfield. He said (via HITC):

“I love Federico. I believed in him when he wasn’t even playing in the Primavera (Fiorentina’s academy), making him play immediately against Juve on the first day (of the 2016/17 season).

“The injury a few years ago changed his career. But, in Liverpool, he will make a real difference. He has an incredible talent.”

Chiesa, 26, came through Fiorentina's academy and registered 34 goals and 26 assists in 153 games for them. He then joined Juventus permanently in 2022 after a two-year loan spell at the club. He scored 32 goals and provided 23 assists in 131 games for the Bianconeri.

Chiesa has, however, missed around 80 games for club and country since the 2021-22 season due to multiple injury issues.

---

Alisson Becker outlines reasons for Liverpool's excellent start to the season

Liverpool have been excellent in their three games of the 2024-25 season so far, winning all three without conceding a single goal. They beat Ipswich Town 2-0 away, Brentford 2-0 at home, and then saw off rivals Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford.

New manager Arne Slot's ideas have worked well so far and the Reds will hope to continue this brilliant run. Goalkeeper Alisson has now explained the reason behind their good start to the season, saying (via Liverpoolfc.com):

"His [Slot's] ideas are not too complicated. He's a really smart manager – not only about the way he thinks about football but the way he implements his ideas, it's really clear.

"The message is really clear, so for us players it's not too complicated and I think that's what we are showing on the pitch. Now we get confidence from doing the things that he asks us to do. But he demands a lot of hard work from us and from our side we have to keep going with these kind of things."

He added:

"But the answer the players are giving on the pitch is unbelievable, the hard work is so good – we have to highlight that.

"Everybody with the same goal of winning the game, keeping the clean sheet and doing whatever is necessary to do on the pitch – to defend, to attack, to score goals, create chances. So that's why I think we are doing so well at the beginning of the season."

Liverpool will return to action on Saturday (September 14) when they host Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.