Liverpool’s “unsung hero” is at risk of changing into Slot’s new Chiesa

Liverpool aren’t fairly proper this season. Regardless of an unbelievable summer season spending spree that soared above something that English soccer has seen earlier than, Arne Slot‘s aspect are struggling to recapture the verve of final season.

However for Liverpool to have accomplished an underwhelming begin to their title defence and perch on the prime of the desk after six video games, successful the primary 5 earlier than struggling defeat at Crystal Palace final weekend.

Many Redmen have struggled to search out their best kind, however not all have flattered to deceive, with Federico Chiesa already wanting leaps and bounds above the rarely-seen winger on the margins final yr.

Chiesa’s Liverpool resurgence

Liverpool hardly broke the financial institution after changing Jurgen Klopp with Slot throughout the summer season of 2024, solely including Chiesa to the ranks, and for a shrewd £12.5m price at that.

Nevertheless, Chiesa arrived having been ravaged by damage issues in recent times at Juventus, and he spent the lion’s share of the 2024/25 marketing campaign on the sidelines, both affected by health points or ignored by Slot.

This yr, nonetheless, he’s seeking to make up for misplaced time, already with two targets and two assists apiece throughout all competitions. So spectacular has he been that there have been requires the underperforming Mohamed Salah to be dropped, and for Chiesa to start out from the fitting.

The versatile Italian will play an necessary position throughout the time period, however there’s one other member of Slot’s squad who has fallen deeper into the fringes of the squad and is starting to appear to be final yr’s model of the 27-year-old.

Slot’s new model of Chiesa

Whereas Chiesa is having fun with a resurgence on Merseyside, Wataru Endo’s position on the membership continues to turn out to be an increasing number of insubstantial, having

Described by Liverpool correspondent David Lynch as being an “unsung hero” for Liverpool, Endo was instrumental in steering Klopp towards a trophy-winning crescendo on the Anfield helm, and he achieved cult standing final yr for his tough-tackling cameos within the dying embers of matches.

Having joined for about £16m from Stuttgart after Liverpool missed out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, each signing for Chelsea, the 32-year-old Endo has performed a vital position in getting this present Liverpool group off the bottom, however he is into the penultimate yr of his contract and has sat as an unused substitute for every of his aspect’s previous three top-flight fixtures.

Tenacious, industrious and a mannequin skilled, Endo stays a valued member of Slot’s squad, nevertheless it’s laborious to see him incomes many alternatives, along with his high quality on the ball admittedly restricted.

Given Gravenberch got here into his personal final yr and is now certainly one of Liverpool’s most necessary gamers, even stated by journalist Beth Lindop to be “on par with Salah and Van Dijk“, it would not appear to be Endo might be incomes a string of begins within the Premier League any time quickly, with Slot positive to search for different methods to cowl at quantity six, ought to the Dutchman fall to an damage.

With Stefan Bajcetic additionally ready within the wings and boasting a confidence in receiving the ball, pivoting and progressing ahead, there is a sense Endo’s fringe position at Liverpool might turn out to be extra peripheral nonetheless because the yr goes on.

Whereas Chiesa’s bounce-back throughout the opening weeks of the season serves as inspiration for any footballer seeking to decide themselves up from the wayside, Endo just isn’t a spring hen anymore, and his large moments in Slot’s squad may path behind him.