Liverpool's attacking line has been left reeling after the departure of Mohamed Salah, but manager Andoni Iraola could find an unlikely solution in Federico Chiesa. The Italian winger has been handed a second chance with his national team under new coach Andrea Pirlo, who has publicly praised Chiesa's skills in one-on-one situations.
Chiesa's situation is a bit of a weird one. The Italian was brought to Liverpool a couple of years ago for a bargain £10 million fee, but his lack of form has led to him being dropped from the team due to injuries and fitness issues.
Pirlo's hiring as Italy's new coach is a move that makes sense, given his status as one of Italy's greatest ever midfielders. The former Juventus captain has already shown his trust in Chiesa, and this could be a turning point for the Italian winger.
Liverpool's attacking line is fairly weak at the moment, and Chiesa could be the answer to their problems. He has scored 83 domestic goals throughout his career, and if Pirlo trusts him to lead Italy's attack, there's no reason why he can't do the same for Liverpool.
However, it's not just about Chiesa's individual talent – it's also about Andoni Iraola putting his faith in the Italian winger. Iraola has already made some positive noises about giving Liverpool's youth ranks a chance to shine, and this could be the perfect opportunity to do just that.
The pre-season friendlies that Liverpool have lined up will give fans a better idea of how Iraola wants his team to line up and play. If he really wants to put his money where his mouth is, giving Chiesa regular playing time would be a great start.
It remains to be seen whether Iraola will take the chance to give Chiesa a new lease of life, but one thing is certain – the Italian winger's confidence will be boosted by his new role with Italy, and this could end up playing in Iraola's favour.
Source: Yahoo Sports