Arne Slot admits Liverpool star isn’t happy with him after ‘argument’ over decision

Having a squad filled with quality is a blessing and a curse for Arne Slot after he decided to leave out Federico Chiesa from his Champions League squad

Arne Slot admitted Federico Chiesa was not happy after being informed he was left out of Liverpool’s Champions League squad. The Italian forward, 27, has made a bright start to the season, scoring the winner in the Reds’ opening-day 4-2 victory over Bournemouth last month.

While he’s appeared in each of the first three Premier League games of the season, he won’t be representing the league champions in Europe due to Slot’s decision. The Liverpool boss opted to select teenage starlet Rio Ngumoha ahead of Chiesa in his 23-man squad for the competition’s league phase.

The 17-year-old is not yet eligible to earn a homegrown place or a spot on ‘List B’, given he only signed for the Merseyside club last summer from Chelsea. Chiesa likely would have been included in the squad if the club had clinched the deadline day signing of Marc Guehi as Giovanni Leoni – who is also not eligible to be registered on Liverpool’s list of Under-21s players – would have been left out instead.