Continuing their terrific start to the 2025/26 season, Arne Slot’s Liverpool secured a narrow 2-1 win over Championship outfit Southampton in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup thanks to goals from two summer recruits in Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike – and the Anfield faithful are imploring the Reds boss to start one star in particular against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the Premier League.
Swedish hitman Isak had the ball put on a plate for him by Federico Chiesa just two minutes shy of the half-time interval; Shea Charles of Southampton squared proceedings in the 76th minute before Ekitike, widely regarded as one of the best strikers in world football, won the match late on.
Watch highlights from Liverpool 2-1 Southampton below:
Against Southampton, there were plenty of post-match discussions to be had. Summer addition, Giovanni Leoni, made his debut since moving from Parma for £26 million; Isak opened his Liverpool goalscoring account and Chiesa, who notched assists for both of his side’s goals, put in a Man of the Match display. The Italian became a fan favourite upon his arrival but has not been given much of a chance.
Anfield Faithful Implore Slot to Start £150,000-Per-Week Star Moving Forward
Liverpool, despite being the reigning champions of England after winning the title at a canter last season, made it through to the next round of the competition by the skin of their teeth after Ekitike passed the ball into an open net – and it was largely thanks to Chiesa, who signed from Juventus in the summer of 2024, and his efforts on the right flank.
Given that Slot rang the changes and started the likes of Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha, Wataru Endo and the aforementioned Leoni, it gave players the chance to prove their worth – and that includes Chiesa, who earns £150,000-per-week on the red half of Merseyside.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Chiesa has now averaged a goal or an assist every 86 minutes he has spent on the pitch for Liverpool; he has seven goal contributions in 603 minutes.
Chiesa’s two assists aside, the 27-year-old winger created the most chances (four) in the match, enjoyed 55 touches (13 of which came in the opposition box) and two of his four attempted dribbles (50%) were accurate. Defensively, too, he worked very, very hard – and that’s evidenced by his two interceptions and three recoveries.
Jamie Redknapp waxed poetic about the ex-Fiorentina academy graduate. “The one player for me who would have got the most out of it would be Federico Chiesa,” the former central midfielder told Sky Sports in the immediate aftermath of their 2-1 victory.
“His energy, desire, it hasn’t gone well for him so far. He’s had a few moments and definitely lately he has shown signs that he is going back to that player we all knew he was. But I think today he was just what they needed, as without him, they would have been in a bit of a hole. He was exceptional.”
The Liverpool supporters, too, were pleased with Chiesa’s performance against Will Still’s men. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), one wrote: “Chiesa is doing everything to impress. Slot has to now starting repaying his commitment, attitude and performances with more minutes that he deserves. Gakpo’s been off all season so far and Rio is still learning. Let Chiesa cook.”
“I want to see Chiesa starting over Gakpo every now and then in the Premier League. Promise you lot, he’s ready,” a second supporter said before another echoed the same sentiment that Chiesa should start over Cody Gakpo in the upcoming matches. They wrote: “Chiesa is more effective on that left wing than Gakpo.”
“I’m going to be pushing for Chiesa to start at left wing above Gakpo in the Premier League, I’m sorry. Love Gakpo, but that Chiesa performance is undeniably more than Gakpo can offer Isak and Ekitike. He deserves his flowers.”
“Chiesa on the left is a fun time. Seems to have a burst of pace back this season. I know Slot hates the guy but I would love to see him start a league game over Gakpo soon,” another wrote as a final fan concluded: “That Chiesa best performance for Liverpool by a distance, he did an insane amount of running, as well as 2 assists. He is a genuine option for our attack now. I’d play him ahead of Gakpo vs Palace. MOTM.”