Coach Arne Slot spoke sincerely after Chiesa’s brilliant performance.

Italian star Federico Chiesa delivered an outstanding performance that led Liverpool through the third round of the Carabao Cup, earning high praise from coach Arne Slot.

Winger Federico Chiesa put on an impressive display, guiding Liverpool to a 2-1 victory over Southampton in the Carabao Cup third round. In a match where coach Arne Slot made 11 changes compared to the win against Everton last weekend, Liverpool played with less cohesion, a slower pace, and showed vulnerabilities at times. Nevertheless, Chiesa’s brilliance helped "The Reds" overcome these challenges.

Chiesa directly assisted both goals, the first setting up newcomer Alexander Isak to open the scoring, and later creating the chance for Hugo Ekitike to score. Moreover, statistics show the 27-year-old created 4 chances, took 4 shots, and had 13 touches inside the box, the highest on the field. This was seen as Chiesa’s perfect response after being left out of this season’s Champions League squad.

After the match, coach Arne Slot didn’t hold back his praise for the Italian star: “It’s no coincidence that Federico provided the first assist. He was the most involved, the most hardworking, and put in the greatest effort.”

Slot also emphasized that this is the best way for players to regain their place in the squad or earn more playing time: “This is how you get back into the team or get more minutes on the pitch. I’m satisfied with some individuals but not with others.”. When asked about which players underperformed, the Dutch strategist declined to reveal names but suggested “they need to reflect on themselves.”.

While Chiesa received praise, Hugo Ekitike was criticized by Slot for an “unnecessary” red card after scoring the decisive goal. “That was a foolish and needless red card,”he stated bluntly. This indicates that coach Arne Slot is trying to reestablish discipline and fair competition within the team, while signaling that opportunities will open for those who work hard like Chiesa.

The 2-1 win over Southampton secured Liverpool’s place in the Carabao Cup fourth round, awaiting their next opponent after all third-round matches conclude. With this performance, Chiesa not only helped Liverpool advance in the domestic cup but also opened up hope for a return to the starting lineup after being excluded from the Champions League squad.