Federico Chiesa needed 87 minutes of a crushing home defeat before Andoni Iraola finally called his number. The 28-year-old Italian replaced Bradley Barcola with the game long gone, his first appearance of the 2026-27 season after a muscular injury had kept him out of pre-season and the opening months of the campaign.

The context made the cameo more pointed. Liverpool were missing Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo through injury, and Iraola turned to academy forward Lewis Koumas at centre-forward rather than hand Chiesa a starting role. Even with the attack stripped back, the former Juventus winger could not force his way in.

A £12.5m signing behind an academy teenager

Liverpool paid Juventus £10m up front plus £2.5m in add-ons for Chiesa in August 2024, with the Italy international signing a four-year contract on the same wages he had earned in Turin. The head coach who sanctioned the move, Arne Slot, has since gone. Andoni Iraola was appointed on a two-year contract on 4 June 2026, and under the new regime Chiesa sits behind Barcola, Florian Wirtz and even academy prospect Rio Ngumoha in the wide-attacking order, according to Goal.

The warning signs were already in the 2025-26 numbers. Chiesa made 26 Premier League appearances but started only one, finishing with two goals and one assist from 319 league minutes, and was an unused substitute on 15 occasions.

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Gravenberch sent off as City take control

Sunday was Liverpool’s first league defeat of the season. Ryan Gravenberch was shown a second yellow card for a challenge on Jeremy Doku shortly after the hour, and Manchester City scored within three minutes of going up a man. Erling Haaland opened the scoring in the 65th minute after a deflected Doku strike, Doku then added a second with a curling finish past Alisson, and Rayan Cherki sealed the win late on, the Tribune reported. The result dropped Liverpool to ninth in the Premier League table.

Napoli and Inter circling for January

Chiesa earns around €7m net a year and has 18 months remaining on his Anfield deal. Goal reports Liverpool are seeking at least €15m if he is sold in January, with Napoli and Inter among the Italian clubs linked.

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