Chiesa stay could be sliding doors moment for Liverpool's season

Federico Chiesa had one foot out of the door this summer, but has played an important role since resolving to stick around.

Photo: IMAGO | Anfield Index

Liverpool are no different to any other football club in that their history is littered with countless sliding doors moments.

Some of them, of course, relate to heartache, with John Stones’ goalline clearance at the Etihad Stadium and Mohamed Salah’s shoulder injury in Kiev two prominent recent examples.

But for every negative outcome, there is a Mario Gotze snub resulting in the signing of Sadio Mane, or the club as a whole entering its lowest ebb just as Fenway Sports Group were considering a move into ‘soccer’.

Sometimes, fate can smile on you in a decisive and undoubtedly positive way.

So, could it be that Federico Chiesa extending his Anfield stay beyond the last summer transfer window might end up being considered one such moment?

Make no mistake, the Italian staying put had little to do with some grand plan for him to play a major role in his second season at Anfield.

Yet that is clearly - and somewhat surprisingly - proving to be the case thus far, much to Liverpool’s advantage.

That late winner against Bournemouth on the opening day set the tone for a thrilling start to the campaign, and Chiesa was also subsequently involved in Newcastle being dispatched in similar fashion.

Then, on Tuesday evening, the 27-year-old put in arguably his best performance in a red shirt in providing two assists as Southampton were beaten in the Carabao Cup.

Of course, the elephant in the room is that none of this would have happened had any club made what was considered a serious offer during the summer, with Liverpool’s recruitment staff having been minded to accept such a bid.

But that did not transpire despite tentative Italian interest, and by the end of the window the player had become resolved to prove a point in England.

He has certainly played like it since, combining relentless workrate with the sort of output it was hoped he would provide upon signing.

That is, a goal and two assists from just 141 minutes of action, and a squad-leading average of 4.47 shots per 90 that eclipses Hugo Ekitike (3.19), Alexander Isak (2.86) and Mohamed Salah (1.86).