Federico Chiesa is on the verge of lacking out on a Premier League winners' medal, although should take a web page out of Harvey Elliott's e-book if he does.
The Italian ace, who signed for Liverpool from Juventus in the summertime, has solely clocked up three league video games this season and desires a minimum of two extra appearances within the competitors to fulfill the automated qualification for a medal. Based on Premier League guidelines, gamers must rack up 5 appearances through the season to be deemed eligible for one.
That mentioned, the golf equipment obtain a complete of 40 medals and might distribute them as they see match as soon as all gamers with 5 or extra appearances have been awarded theirs. Again when Liverpool clinched the title within the 2019/20 season, Elliott was three video games in need of the required appearances.
Regardless of this, he dealt with the state of affairs with absolute professionalism and beauty. Upon getting ribbed on social media about not receiving a medal, with one consumer jesting: "Lol no medal should suck a lot," Elliott graciously responded: "It's not about me lad. It's in regards to the workforce.
"And I'm over the moon for all of them to be receiving one. They deserve it greater than something so I'm going to celebrating as a supporter with the followers."
Elliott, now 21, received the final snort after being awarded one of many further medals. Nonetheless, he'll little doubt be decided to safe one on advantage this time round, and can do precisely that if Liverpool win the league, having made 10 appearances thus far this season.
The Reds are sitting comfortably on the prime of the desk with a 13-point lead. Though Arsenal, who’re in second place, have a recreation in hand, Liverpool's lead appears unassailable, particularly with the Gunners dropping factors of their final two matches.
This places Chiesa in a tense race in opposition to time to clock up 5 appearances earlier than the season concludes. The 27-year-old has been battling accidents since his transfer to Anfield and has struggled to safe enjoying time even when match.
That is significantly because of Mo Salah's dazzling type in Chiesa's favoured right-wing place. Securing minutes on the left hasn't been any simpler, with Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota all competing for the spot.
Chiesa was an unused substitute in every of Liverpool's final 4 league video games and was omitted of the squad fully for the earlier two. Extra worryingly, he's solely managed seven minutes of Premier League motion since September, having made simply a few late appearances in opposition to Brentford and Ipswich final month.
Out of his 10 Liverpool appearances throughout all competitions, solely three have been begins. He's additionally solely accomplished 90 minutes as soon as – through the Reds' 3-2 loss to PSV within the Champions League final month.
Chiesa isn't the one senior Liverpool participant set to overlook out on a winners' medal. Jayden Danns, who has featured in each the Premier League and Champions League this season, is 4 appearances in need of one, and received't get any extra after being loaned out to Sunderland.
Reserve goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros additionally requires 4 extra appearances, however with each Alisson and Caoimhin Kelleher now match, securing game-time might show difficult. Different gamers like Trey Nyoni, Tyler Morton and James McConnell, who’ve every participated in a number of video games in different competitions, are 5 league video games brief and appear unlikely to qualify.
Ought to he fail to safe a medal, Chiesa wouldn't be the primary high-profile participant to overlook out in recent times. Kalvin Phillips solely managed 4 league video games for Manchester Metropolis final season, whereas Cole Palmer, now at Chelsea, suffered the identical destiny within the 2021/22 season.
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