Federico Bernardeschi insists Federico Chiesa deserves to be at Liverpool and has backed his former team-mate to prove himself at Anfield. 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.

But 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...