Liverpool media rate Federico Chiesa’s full debut vs West Ham
Liverpool fans and pundits alike were delighted with what they saw from Federico Chiesa in their 5-1 League Cup win over West Ham on Wednesday (September 25).
The 26-year-old was handed his first start by new manager Arne Slot in Liverpool’s comprehensive 5-1 League Cup win over fellow Premier League side West Ham.
Chiesa showed glimpses of the player who starred in Italy’s Euro 2020 win, providing an acrobatic assist for Diogo Jota to score their equaliser in the 25th minute to cancel out Jarell Quansah’s own goal.
The winger was substituted by Slot on the hour mark as he gets up to speed with the dynamic Dutchman’s system.
Jota then got his second just after half-time before Mo Salah got in on the action in the 74th minute, reacting first to Lukas Fabianski’s initial save from Alexis Mac Allister’s shot.
West Ham midfielder Edson Alvarez received his second yellow just two minutes later for a late challenge on the Egyptian.
Cody Gakpo then put the game well beyond the visitor’s reach with two goals in quick succession to secure an away tie against Brighton in the next round.
How the Liverpool press reacted to Federico Chiesa’s full debut
Famous Liverpool outlet This is Anfield gave Chiesa a 7/10, saying, “Notched his first assist for the club with his half-volley into the ground, headed in by Jota. A few glimpses of the brilliance and ingenuity he can provide, starting wide right but popping up the opposite channel too.
“Got a good hour of running and working in his system, inching him closer towards being a more regular selection consideration.”
LiverpoolWorld weren’t quite as impressed giving the Italian a 6/10, saying, “May have been going for goal with his mishit acrobatic effort but he wouldn’t have minded the ball finding Jota to equalise. Showed one clever piece of skill shortly before the break and was unsurprisingly subbed in the 59th minute given his lack of action of late.”
Liverpool.com listed Chiesa as one of their ‘winners’, saying, “Chiesa also deserves a mention after making his first start for Liverpool following his summer move from Juventus. The Italian winger had featured off the bench in the last two games against AC Milan and Bournemouth, yet gave it a good go during the 60 minutes he featured and even got the assist for the opener.“
AnfieldWatch agreed with the general consensus, “The best player in the first half, Chiesa was constantly running and taking players on. Set-up a brilliant goal with his acrobatic effort and looked lively in the second-half as well. 7/10.”
AnfieldIndex also decided Chiesa was worth a 7/10, “The Italian superstar was productive in his worst rate and a solid first half of running and intrigue was rewarded by an assist for the equalizer. As the game resumed, the former Juve attacker was lively before leaving the field of play.”
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