Liverpool’s 2–0 win over Brighton brought smiles on the scoreboard — but behind the scenes, a storm is quietly building at Anfield.
Despite the victory, attention quickly shifted away from the result and toward one glaring absence: Federico Chiesa. His continued omission has now triggered a fierce reaction from a former Liverpool player, who believes the Italian forward is being pushed to the margins under Arne Slot — and in a way that crosses a dangerous line.
Speaking after the match, the ex-Red delivered a blistering verdict, insisting Chiesa’s current situation eclipses anything he personally endured during his own struggles at the club.
> “People talk about how I was treated,” he said. “But this? This is worse. Being left out repeatedly, frozen on the sidelines — especially after he spoke openly — says more than enough. Something isn’t right.”
Those words landed heavily among supporters, reopening uncomfortable conversations about player management, trust, and whether one of Liverpool’s most gifted attackers is being wasted at a crucial stage of his career.
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Many fans expected Chiesa to feature against Brighton, particularly after recent flashes of energy and quality when he was given minutes. His sharp movement, pressing, and technical threat appeared tailor-made for the occasion.
Instead, when the teamsheet dropped, his name was missing yet again.
Sources close to the camp suggest Chiesa had trained strongly all week and was in no physical doubt. That only deepened the confusion — and suspicion — around the decision.
“It didn’t feel tactical,” the former player added. “It felt intentional. That’s what worries me.”
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If this trend continues, the January transfer window may become impossible to ignore — not due to a lack of ability, but because chances are simply not arriving.
For Liverpool, allowing a player of Chiesa’s pedigree to drift away without fully testing his impact could prove expensive — not just in footballing terms, but in how this era under Slot is ultimately remembered.
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This is no longer just about one footballer fighting for minutes.
It’s about communication.
It’s about squad unity.
It’s about whether talent is being nurtured — or quietly sidelined.
When former players, supporters, and outside observers all start asking the same questions, the message becomes impossible to dismiss.
Chiesa wants to play.
Fans want to see him play.
And if nothing changes soon, January may mark the start of a split that never needed to happen 
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