Federico Chiesa exceeded Arne Slot expectations on first PL start for Liverpool

Liverpool boss Arne Slot believes Federico Chiesa offered more than could be expected on his long-awaited first Premier League start in Monday’s 3-2 loss at Brighton.

Italy forward Chiesa was the only new arrival after Slot succeeded Jurgen Klopp at Anfield last summer but has been a peripheral figure since his £10million switch from Juventus.

With champions Liverpool having clinched the title at the end of last month, the Euro 2020 winner was finally handed his full top-flight debut as part of four changes from last weekend’s 2-2 draw with second-placed Arsenal.

Chiesa, who has featured just six times in the league overall, had minimal impact at the Amex Stadium as the Reds twice surrendered a lead to suffer a fourth league defeat of the campaign.

Mohamed Salah missed an open goal to put the visitors 3-1 ahead before second-half finishes from substitutes Kaoru Mitoma and Jack Hinshelwood secured the three points for the eighth-placed Seagulls after Harvey Elliott and Dominik Szoboszlai struck either side of Yasin Ayari’s initial leveller.

“The biggest quality Federico has is scoring goals,” said Slot.

“So the more you get him in and around the box, the bigger chance it is for him to score.

“He got a good chance just before Mo had his big chance. For him to have an open shot from the 18-yard box is for Federico a very good chance because he’s such a great finisher.

“I think he did even more than I could expect from him because if you haven’t played throughout the whole season, hardly ever had any starts, and then to play Brighton away – which is a very good team, number eight of the league that can bring in Mitoma 20 minutes before the end – that tells you everything about this league.

“For him to be out for so long and