Liverpool fans remain convinced Arne Slot is not using Federico Chiesa often enough, after the Italian’s vital cameo – at the other end of the pitch – against Sunderland.

Chiesa brought his tally of minutes in this season’s Premier League to 143 with four more in normal time during Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland.

While he replaced Alexander Isak with a view to clinching a late winner, his most telling impact came with a dramatic block to deny Wilson Isidor a goal as the visitors countered.

That it was down to Chiesa to charge back and ensure Liverpool held onto a point left the Mail‘s Dominic King “staggered.”

King was not the only onlooker left baffled by Chiesa’s treatment by Arne Slot, either, with the No. 14 still yet to start in the Premier League or Champions League despite being this season’s fifth-most reliable source of goals.

Liverpool fans criticise Arne Slot over Chiesa’s role

Chiesa’s absence from the side comes while Mohamed Salah‘s starting spot is in question for the first time since joining from AS Roma in 2017.

The Egyptian was left out of back-to-back games but then brought on at the break for the wholly ineffective Cody Gakpo, who himself appears to have no competition for his place on the left.

Given the clear lack of incentive when it comes to meaningful starts, it would be easy to forgive Chiesa for not applying himself as relentlessly as he does.

But he continues to step up in key moments like his crucial block on Wednesday, which surely deserves more than he is getting in terms of opportunities.