Liverpool’s loss against Chelsea on Sunday was ultimately as easy a defeat as it’s possible to take.
With the Reds already crowned as champions, they had no reason to collect anything from their trip to Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool supporters enjoyed themselves in west London, continuing the party atmosphere even beyond Cole Palmer adding a third and final goal for Chelsea in injury time.
The game had given Arne Slot a chance to take a look at some fringe players in the Liverpool squad, with a handful of them no doubt fighting for their futures at Anfield.
In that context, some had perhaps expected Federico Chiesa to be given a chance from the start at Stamford Bridge. However, the Italian was reduced to an eight-minute cameo.
With calls to give Chiesa game time growing louder, Slot explained why he had chosen to hold the winger back after the game.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty ImagesArne Slot impressed by Cody Gakpo performance
Slot spoke about Chiesa’s situation before Sunday’s game, confirming the 27-year-old would be given a chance at some stage during the next four Liverpool fixtures.
His actions against Chelsea did not reflect this pact, though, with Chiesa once again given very little time in which to make a difference.
Asked directly about why he chose to wait so long before introducing the Italy international in his post-match press conference, Slot cited the performance of Cody Gakpo as the main reason.
“Because I decided to bring other players in first, because I already brought Darwin [Nunez] in so that wasn’t a position I could bring him in,” said the Liverpool head coach.
“Then Cody Gakpo, I liked him a lot today, he played a really good game and I’ve changed him and took him out in the last few weeks many times already. Mo [Salah] is always a player that can score a goal, so that’s why I first made different substitutions.
“In the end, I would almost say what people expect from me over here is we take an extra risk, so get a defender out, bring Federico in. That also led to us scoring the goal, but not enough time left for him to make the difference, unfortunately.”
Will Chiesa start against Arsenal?
Although Liverpool’s remaining games have nothing at all riding on them for the Reds, the matches themselves are all tough in their own way.
Liverpool are not playing mid-table teams or relegation fodder, they have hard matches against teams who are desperate to beat them.
With a strong Chelsea team really needing the points on Sunday, it was perhaps understandable that Slot chose not to start Chiesa.
But it also then looks unlikely that the former Juventus player will begin the game against Arsenal this weekend. The Gunners have dropped off but they will still give Liverpool a tough match at Anfield.
Although Chiesa may get a cameo at the end once again, we’d be surprised to see him in the line-up against Arsenal. It’s perhaps more likely that his first ever Premier League start comes the following Monday at Brighton, or on the final day when Crystal Palace visit Anfield.