Federico Chiesa's time has come - Mohamed Salah absence means Arne Slot must promote him

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Mohamed Salah's absence from the Liverpool squad could provide an unexpected boost for the Reds as they face a busy schedule without their star man, and Federico Chiesa stands to benefitEvery cloud has a silver lining, and Mohamed Salah's potential absence from the Liverpool line-up for possibly the next month is no different. The Italian has shown flashes of brilliance and was named Liverpool's Player of the Month for September following some impactful appearances but is still striving for recognition under Slot.READ MORE: Liverpool's next steps as Alexander Isak faces lengthy spell on sidelines with leg injuryREAD MORE: International media reach Mohamed Salah verdict after Liverpool forward's late AFCON winnerThis could certainly change in the upcoming weeks, especially if Salah's Egypt make a deep run at the AFCON.

Chiesa might privately hope his team-mate remains abroad for as long as possible to maximise his chance.The ex-Juventus forward is still waiting for his first league start of the season, a situation that could change in Saturday's home match against Wolves. However, once again, Chiesa is ready to provide much-needed support just when the attack needs it.Interestingly, while Salah's recent exclusion from Slot's squad led to a heated reaction, Chiesa remained composed under similar circumstances.

The Euro 2024 champion even declined an Italy call-up in November because he "didn't feel 100 per cent," perhaps partly due to the feeling that he has something to prove at his club.Slot revealed Chiesa's "unhappy" reaction to being omitted from this season's European squad, at least initially. And the current gaps in Liverpool's attack could provide the justification he needs to secure a more prominent role in Slot's strategy.