Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa is set to miss Sunday’s Premier League clash against Manchester United.
The Italy forward finalized his transfer from Juventus on Thursday.
However, Arne Slot does not anticipate him being included in the squad for the game at Old Trafford.
“He’s going to train with us today but it’s a bigger chance that he is not in the squad for Sunday than he is,” the head coach said during Friday morning’s pre-match press conference.
“If injuries might come up in the upcoming two days we might need him, but I don’t expect him to be in but I cannot guarantee this.”
He added: “Excited.
“Like I said before, if we sign someone that can help us [in] achieving our goals and improve the squad, if we then find someone, of course you’re really excited that we brought him in.
“I think one of the best things of working here, what I’ve noticed till now, is the culture of the team.
“They work really hard to try to achieve their goals.
“And I think it’s really important that the first player you bring in has that same attitude and brings the same culture.
“He works really hard on and off the pitch to try to get the best out of him, and he combines this with scoring goals and, like I said, [being] really aggressive without the ball – those are already two characteristics with him.
“With him [able to play] so many positions – on the right, on the left and maybe even in the middle – it makes him an interesting signing for us.
“Although I agree with you, we should take care of him in the beginning because he didn’t train with the team in the last two weeks – but before he did.
“[He] hasn’t played many game minutes yet but we have a very good performance staff, so we will build him up in the right way and then hopefully we can see his quality in the near future.”
On whether Chiesa’s injury record is ‘overexaggerated’, Slot continued: “It wouldn’t be the first time the English media overexaggerate!
“I think it is true he had a long-term injury with his ACL, but for the rest I don’t think he had big injuries.
“Minor injuries like every other player maybe.
“We have a lot of trust in our performance staff and the good thing is he is not the only winger we have: he is one out of four, where some others can play in that position as well.
“If he is not available at certain moments – not only with him, also the others – then there is still enough players for me to choose.”
Meanwhile, Curtis Jones is the Reds’ only injury concern ahead of the trip to face United.
Slot stated: “At the moment there are not any other injuries except for Curtis Jones and he will not train with us today.
“But the rest will train with us today.”
Chiesa became the second signing of the Slot era, following the acquisition of Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia for the 2025-26 season.
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