Federico Chiesa closes on Liverpool debut as midfielder returns to full training

Liverpool were back in training at the AXA Training Centre on Thursday as they stepped up their preparations for the visit of Nottingham Forest to Anfield after the September international break. The Reds will be looking to maintain their 100% start to the season under new head coach Arne Slot on Saturday.

Harvey Elliott dealt Liverpool an injury blow earlier this week after it was confirmed that he had fractured his foot while away with England Under-21s. Set to be sidelined until the end of October, he was inevitably absent from training as a result.

However, the Reds were handed a double injury boost ahead of their meeting with Nuno Espirito Santo's side this weekend. Here's what the ECHO spotted from Liverpool's latest training session...

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Mac Allister trains

There was good news on the Alexis Mac Allister front with the Argentina midfielder cleared for involvement in Thursday's session.

The World Cup winner enjoyed mixed fortunes during the break with the Copa America holders, having started and scored in a 3-0 win over Chile after initially being withdrawn from training as an injury doubt earlier that week.

After that goal, Mac Allister was then taken off as a fitness concern and sat out most of the defeat to Luis Diaz's Colombia earlier this week before being introduced as second-half substitute in the 2-1 loss.

Despite the confusion as to how fit he currently is, however, he was available for Slot on Thursday and is in consideration for Saturday's visit from Forest.

Jones back in contention

Curtis Jones is back in full training and is available for Saturday's game having not featured so far this term.

Jones was part of the match-day squad for the 2-0 win at Ipswich in mid August but has been absent from the games against Brentford and Manchester United.

Having stepped up his recovery during the international break, Jones could now come back into the squad for the game in place of Harvey Elliott, who has suffered a fractured foot. A timely return for the Academy graduate.

Chiesa closes in on debut

Having sat out Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Manchester United due to a lack of match fitness before the September international break, Federico Chiesa could make his debut for the Reds this weekend against Nottingham Forest.

However, having not had much of a pre-season at former club Juventus, Chiesa's last real meaningful involvement came when Italy were knocked out of the European Championship in late June. That means his debut is unlikely to be rushed by Slot, particularly with all five of his other front players fit and ready.

Signed from Juventus for an initial £10m late last month, the forward had been deemed surplus to requirements in Turin and hadn’t played since Italy’s Euro 2024 round-of-16 exit to Switzerland on June 30.

Chiesa has spent the international break training with Liverpool Under-21s in a bid to get up to speed. And with the Reds first team now back in training, he has been reunited with his new senior team-mates.

The Italian was pictured in good spirits alongside the likes of fellow forwards Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, and will be itching to get his first taste of action for the club this weekend if declared match fit.

Business as usual for Kelleher

Caoimhin Kelleher made headlines during the international break as he shared his frustration at being denied a move away by Liverpool during the summer.

The Republic of Ireland international made his first appearances of the season for the Boys in Green in the Nations League, but has returned to serving as Alisson Becker’s deputy at club-level.

Desperate to be a first-choice goalkeeper, the 25-year-old is ready to move on in search of starting football but will have to remain patient for such an opportunity after an Anfield exit was not forthcoming this summer.

After his comments regarding his future at the start of the week, the shot-stopper trained as normal at the AXA Training Centre and was pictured diving at Chiesa’s feet.

While he will likely be back on the bench against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, a first appearance of the season for the Reds is likely to await in the League Cup at home to West Ham United later this month.

Unused but not for long

Beyond Chiesa, Jones and Kelleher, a number of players trained who are also yet to make their first appearances under Slot.

Joe Gomez, Vitezslav Jaros, Tyler Morton, Harvey Davies and Trey Nyoni were all pictured in Thursday’s session at the AXA Training Centre.

With Liverpool’s Champions League and League Cup campaigns set to get underway over the next two weeks, Slot is likely to make full use of his squad. Consequently, the aforementioned outfielders at least should not be waiting too long for their first taste of action for the campaign.

Meanwhile, excitement around Nyoni continues following a successful international break away with England Under-18s. The 17-year-old scored twice against Portugal and France as the Young Lions finished second in the Lafarge Tournament, and finished as top scorer as a result.

Now training permanently with Slot’s first team, the teenager very much remains one to watch in the weeks and months ahead after an impressive pre-season.