Federico Chiesa News

Six more Liverpool stars could be playing their last match vs Brentford as legends depart

The final day of the Premier League will prove pivotal for Liverpool's Champions League ambitions but there will also be some poignancy to the occasion too. Multiple players, including some associated with the club's biggest recent moments, are bracing themselves to bid farewell to the Anfield faithful for the last time. Following defeat at Aston Vill a, Arne Slot's side may require a result against Brentford to guarantee a top-five finish. There will be little scope for sentimentality and a strong starting XI is essential, while the opposition have European hopes of their own. Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson are already set to leave after nine years apiece on Merseyside. The Premier League and Champions League winning duo will be difficult to replace on and off the pitch. FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page They may not be the only ones bidding their goodbyes , however, with further departures potentially on the cards over the summer. We've looked more closely at some of those who could be saying farewell. Back in December, it appeared as though Salah could leave long before the end of the season after a bombshell statement following Liverpool's draw with Leeds. However, a period away from the limelight at the Africa Cup of Nations ensued and when he returned there was no winter exit. In March, though, he confirmed his intention to depart in the summer. He only signed his most recent contract extension at the tail end of last season but is now set to depart. An injury sustained in the recent victory over Crystal Palace raised concerns that Salah might be denied a fitting farewell. He made his comeback at Villa Park, though, and is in the frame to feature this weekend, even if more recent criticism of the club prompted suggestions from some quarters that he should be left out. Robertson, like Salah, arrived at Liverpool during the summer of 2017. Tottenham expressed interest in January but has remained at Anfield to see out the remainder of his contract. The Scottish international was an unused substitute on Friday, with Milos Kerkez preferred in the starting XI. He has featured less regularly this season than in previous campaigns but may still see action against Brentford. Since his arrival from Hull City, Robertson has made over 350 appearances for Liverpool and collected numerous honours. Spurs continue to be the frontrunners for his services should he remain in the Premier League, though there has also been talk of a potential move overseas. Konate's contract has been a recurring talking point throughout this campaign. The France international seemed on the verge of agreeing fresh terms in April, but that speculation has subsequently quietened and his current deal is due to run out in June. It remains possible that both player and club head into Sunday's fixture without clarity over what lies ahead. The 26-year-old has contended with fitness problems during his spell at Liverpool but seems to have put those behind him this term, barely missing a league game. Konate and Robertson are amongst four Liverpool players whose deals run out this year. However, back-up keeper Freddie Woodman and centre-back Rhys Williams are not anticipated to feature in Sunday's match. Alisson has been sidelined through injury since March, sitting out seven straight league fixtures. It marks the second prolonged spell on the sidelines this season for the Brazilian, though he has now returned to training and may be involved on Sunday. The 33-year-old has been at the club since 2018, when he arrived following his role in helping Roma reach the Champions League semi-finals. Juventus are keen to bring him back to Italy but nothing has been agreed. Giorgi Mamardashvili has delivered some impressive displays after initially being brought in as Alisson's long-term replacement. Nevertheless, bidding farewell to a cornerstone of two title-winning campaigns will prove emotional whenever that moment arrives. Jones is another player to be linked with a potential Serie A move. The academy graduate has attracted interest from Inter Milan, with reports indicating Denzel Dumfries could head to Anfield as part of any deal. The England international's remarks following Friday's loss prompted speculation about his future. "Thank you for your continued support in a disappointing season. It's way off the standards expected at this football club," he wrote on social media. Since making his Premier League bow in 2019, Jones has racked up more than 150 appearances in the competition for his boyhood club. He has featured in the starting XI for the past seven league matches and broke into the senior England side during his time at Anfield, winning six senior caps. Since arriving from Juventus during Arne Slot's first transfer window in charge, Chiesa's future has been the subject of regular speculation. The 28-year-old has struggled to cement a regular place in the side but has, to his credit, displayed little indication of discontent at Anfield. The Italian began the campaign with an important goal from the bench as Liverpool defeated Bournemouth and there was considerable hope about what might come next. He has managed just one further league goal but did feature as a substitute in each of the previous three fixtures. Several Serie A sides, including former club Juve, have been linked with a summer move after similar reports last summer. Despite his difficulties, the Reds could still make a profit on the £12.7million they invested. Gomez is Liverpool's longest-serving player and amongst the longest-serving across the entire Premier League. The defender arrived from Charlton Athletic as a teenager in 2015 but this weekend's fixture could prove to be his final appearance for the club. The England international has another year remaining on his deal. Nevertheless, there have been suggestions that he could depart before then with interest from AC Milan. An option at right-back or centre-back and a two-time Premier League winner, Gomez will require replacing should he depart. The 28-year-old has featured 32 times across all competitions this season and more than 250 times in total for Liverpool despite suffering some significant injury problems. Japan midfielder Endo arrived ahead of Jurgen Klopp's final campaign but has struggled for game time under the German's successor Slot. There have been reports he could depart in the summer instead of completing the final year of his contract, with a move back to the Bundesliga among the possible outcomes. There were concerns the 33-year-old had already made his final Liverpool appearance after sustaining an ankle ligament tear in February. The former Stuttgart player has been grafting hard on his rehabilitation, however, and hinted at featuring against Brentford after being included in his nation's World Cup squad. "It wasn't an easy way to recover from the injury, but I believed in myself to make this happen and will keep working hard to get fit for the games," he said. "Thank you all my teammates, staff and the fans for always being with and supporting me. I hope to see all the LFC fans on the pitch at Anfield next week before going to the World Cup. YNWA." Buy Blood Red, our monthly Liverpool FC print publication for just £3.50 by clicking here

2026-05-19

Italy in World Cup peril as Gattuso benches Chiesa ahead of playoff

Italy's coach Gennaro Gattuso admitted nerves are unavoidable as the Italy national football team try to avoid missing a third straight World Cup, saying only “someone without blood running through their veins” would stay calm in such a moment. Still carrying the same fire that defined his role in Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph, Gattuso cut a familiar figure on the touchline, intense and uncompromising. Ahead of Thursday’s playoff against the Northern Ireland national football team, he also hinted at a major decision, revealing he had sent home winger Federico Chiesa in a move that could signal a decisive break from one of the standout players of Italy’s European Championship-winning campaign five years ago. “There’s no denying the tension,” Gattuso said Monday. “Only someone without blood running through their veins wouldn’t feel it. But our job is to channel that into positivity.” That optimism, however, has been hard to find in recent playoff campaigns. Italy’s last two World Cup bids ended in heartbreak, eliminated by the Sweden national football team and the North Macedonia national football team, leaving the Azzurri on the brink once again. Italy is in jeopardy at the same stage for the next World Cup in North America after two losses to Norway in qualifying. The Azzurri need to beat Northern Ireland at home in Bergamo and then Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away next week to avoid going at least 16 years without playing a match at soccer’s biggest event. “There are no alibis,” Gattuso said. “It’s useless to think about whether we could have done better. The only thing we should be thinking about is Thursday’s game. Forget that we’ve won four World Cups, two European Championships and an Olympic title. For us, the only game is Thursday’s. “All of the players who are here today know what we’re playing for and how important it is.” Chiesa was sent back to Liverpool FC after briefly rejoining the national team for the first time in nearly two years. “He had some minor physical issues and we decided it was useless for him to stay,” Gattuso said. But why are other injured players like Sandro Tonali, Gianluca Scamacca and Alessandro Bastoni staying with the team? Especially after Gattuso said when he replaced Luciano Spalletti in June that injured players would remain with the squad to improve team spirit. “Because not every player has the same frame of mind,” Gattuso said. “When I hear that someone is wavering, that’s when I know I need to make a choice. We decided it together. He felt he wasn’t up to it and he went home. I need to accept it.” Nicolò Cambiaghi has replaced Chiesa. Chiesa has played only sparingly since joining Liverpool from Juventus FC two years ago and has started only one Premier League match this season. Northern Ireland also lost a key player Monday when center back Daniel Ballard was ruled out with a hamstring injury. The Sunderland AFC defender is among the few with top-flight experience in the squad. Conor Bradley, Northern Ireland’s captain and a Liverpool right back, was already out injured. Since Gattuso was unable to convince authorities to set up a training camp in the four months since Italy last played, he and delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon traveled across Italy, as well as to London, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, meeting players over dinners to maintain team spirit. “There was no whiteboard or markers,” Gattuso said. “We didn’t go to talk about football or tactics. We were there to create team unity.” Gattuso said he chose to play in Bergamo’s 23,500-seat stadium to create a more positive atmosphere. When Italy lost to Norway at San Siro in November, he noticed that AC Milan and Inter Milan fans would whistle at players from rival clubs. “At the first errant pass you start hearing the whistles,” Gattuso said. “Whereas when we played in Bergamo we were cheered at halftime when it was 0-0.” Italy led Norway 1-0 at halftime in November before Norway scored four second-half goals, including a brace from Erling Haaland. “I really worked a lot over these months on dealing with adversity. One event shouldn’t change the dynamics of a match,” Gattuso said. “It depends on how you react and deal with it.” The playoff comes following a string of successes for Italians in other sports, from the Winter Olympics to Formula 1, tennis, volleyball and even baseball. “These things go in cycles,” Gattuso said. “When I see us winning in other sports, it motivates me. It makes me feel pride. Right now our history tells us that we’re struggling. But we’ve got a big chance here to reach our goal.” If Italy qualifies for the World Cup, it will be placed in Group B with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.

2026-03-24

Italy feeling 'fear' ahead of NI play-off as another star player is ruled out

Fear' is the overriding emotion in Italy ahead of their World Cup play-off with Northern Ireland, according to former Azzurri star Massimo Ambrosini. Having lost play-offs to reach the last two World Cups, Italy finished second in Group I behind Norway during qualifying and face another play-off series - starting with Northern Ireland on Thursday in the semi-final. Gennaro Gattuso's Italian squad have shipped another blow just days out from the crunch game, with Federico Chiesa ruled out through injury. The Liverpool man, a Euro 2020 winner, was due to make his international return for the first time in two years. However, the Italian FA say he has failed a fitness test on arrival. Atalanta striker Gianluca Scamacca has also suffered an adductor injury that will rule him out, while Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni is a doubt after missing the weekend clash with Fiorentina. Former Italy and AC Milan star Ambrosini believes the nation is filled with fear over the do or die play-offs, after falling at the same hurdle in 2018 and 2022. "What's the feeling in Italy before the playoffs? Fear? First of all, fear," said Ambrosini, speaking to BoyleSports . The former AC Milan star, who won four Serie A titles, two UEFA Champions League titles (2003, 2007), and a FIFA Club World Cup, added: "But, we have to find the balance between the pressure that, of course, we have as a country that has not played at the World Cup for the last two editions. "The balance between this pressure, but also the realisation that we know that we are better than Northern Ireland. We have to prove it on the field. "We're going to play in Bergamo. It's not a big stadium, but it has a very good atmosphere," said Ambrosini, who made 35 international appearances for Italy. "Northern Ireland, we know they don't have their best player in Conor Bradley. So, we have everything to win the game." Another Italian legend, Daniele De Rossi, said over the weekend that “there will be an uprising” if they fail to overcome Northern Ireland. Italian boss and ex-Rangers star Gattuso has called up Bologna winger Nicolò Cambiaghi to replace the injured Chiesa. The winner of the Italy v Northern Ireland semi-final will face the winner of the other semi-final between Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 31 away from home. If they lose, they will have to play a friendly against the other defeated semi-finalist. Italy have missed the last two World Cups after failing to qualify directly from the group stage and being ejected in the subsequent playoffs. Chiesa’s withdrawal from the squad is another frustrating chapter for the former Juventus winger. He has made just 46 appearances for Liverpool since his arrival - only nine of which have been starts - due to a series of injury issues. Click here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the latest sports news, headlines and top stories

2026-03-23

Federico Chiesa Dropped By Gattuso As Italy Sweat Over 2026 FIFA World Cup Hopes

Federico Chiesa has been ruled out of Italy’s World Cup play-off due to fitness concerns, dealing a blow as the Azzurri fight to avoid missing a third straight tournament.

2026-03-23