I talk often to Federico Chiesa - It's been difficult at Liverpool but he deserves to be there

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The Italy international has ultimately found himself limited to a bit-part role since joining the Reds from Juventus in August 2024.He was limited to just 14 appearances last season as he struggled with fitness issues, and started only four times with just one coming in the Premier League.The forward has featured more under Arne Slot this season, following the summer sales of Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, and boasts two goals and two assists from six appearances.READ MORE: Moises Caicedo splits from agent who blocked Liverpool transfer in explosive now-deleted statementREAD MORE: Liverpool could be without five players for Man Utd clash after two fresh injury issuesBut he has started only once to date and was initially left out of Liverpool’s Champions League squad before earning a late reprieve after Giovanni Leoni suffered a season-ending ACL injury.Chiesa did score in his last appearance for the Reds, away at Crystal Palace, but missed the trip to Galatasaray with a minor injury before being left as an unused substitute for Liverpool’s loss at Chelsea.He was then missing from the Italy squad during the October international break, with head coach Gennaro Gattuso revealing that the forward was left out as he 'does not feel at 100 per cent'.Bernardeschi, who has played alongside Chiesa at Fiorentina, Juventus and for the Italy national team, has backed his compatriot to earn an international recall in time for next summer’s World Cup.And while the Bologna midfielder concedes the 27-year-old has had a difficult time at Liverpool, he has no doubt that the forward will prove himself again."We hope to be there (the World Cup) together,” he said on the stage of the Fondazione Filarmonica in Trento during the Festival dello Sport, as quoted by TuttoMercatoWeb. It's not easy to say, but what he said about me, I said with an open heart towards him.“He deserves it, he deserved it, and he will deserve it again.

He's an incredibly talented player.“I remember his debut against Juve in Turin, with Fiorentina. Don't worry about the rest, I'll take responsibility if necessary.'“He already had the weight of his father's surname, so it was as if he had to leave with 30 extra kilos in his backpack.“I didn't think it was right, he should have been Federico, not his father, Enrico.

He managed to prove himself, and he will succeed again.“I think we need such pure talents, which are sometimes criticised. But in the end, talent is talent, it comes out in difficult moments.“Like what happened to him last year (at Liverpool), but look how he is coming out (of it).“We talk often, he's in a great team and if he's there, it's because he deserves to be there.