What Federico Chiesa was doing at AXA Training Centre as Alisson Becker hands Liverpool boost

Federico Chiesa remained absent from Liverpool team training on Monday as Mohamed Salah joined a handful of senior stars in action with the Reds’ Under-21s. The Italy international has been limited to just 78 minutes of action since moving to Anfield at the end of August.

Signing for an initial £10m from Juventus, the 27-year-old made his debut off the bench against AC Milan in September before being handed a maiden Premier League outing late on against AFC Bournemouth. Then handed a full debut in the League Cup against West Ham United, he completed 59 minutes when making his first start with an assist.

However, that meeting with the Hammers remains the forward’s last appearance for Liverpool.

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An unused substitute away at Wolverhampton Wanderers at the end of September, he has been out of action ever since because of injury and fitness issues.

Prior to the November international break, head coach Arne Slot shared his expectation for the forward to return to training ahead of the Reds’ own return to club action.

“I would not use the word concern but it is far from ideal for him and us," Slot said. "Because with the injury of Dioga (Jota) we have four attackers available, so this could have been a great moment for him to get more playing time.

"It is difficult for a player who missed out on pre-season and playing pre-season games and training sessions. You have to give a player more time to get to the intensity levels.

"It is a difficult balance to get him where we want but we are trying and he is trying everything he can to get to these levels.

"Once he is at that physical level we will benefit from having him. At this moment we expect him back during the international break and then he should be with us after the international break normally."

However, despite such hopes, it appears the forward is yet to make a return to team training.

Harvey Elliott made his return from a fractured foot to train with the Under-21s last week, and was again in action with the young Reds on Monday. Mohamed Salah and Joe Gomez were also involved in Barry Lewtas’ side, with assistant manager Sipke Hulshoff helping take the session.

Meanwhile, in LFC TV’s latest ‘Inside Training’ video, Alisson Becker was also spotted in full training wear in the dressing room, having returned from the pitches coated in mud and carrying a bag of balls.

Side-lined since the start of October with a hamstring injury, it would appear the Brazilian has stepped up his recovery - though he was not involved in the full team session with the Under-21s as he seemingly trained on an individual basis.

Chiesa was also spotted in training wear in the dressing room, as he followed Salah through a side-door while sharing a brief exchange with head of rehab physiotherapy Lee Nobes.

Having not been involved in the team session with the Under-21s, it remains unclear how close the Italian is to actually making his return for Liverpool. However, he was spotted wearing gloves as he came into camera in the dressing room, having headed from the directions of the pitch on a snowy day at the AXA Training Centre, suggesting, like Alisson, he too was training individually prior to the team session.

In truth, this could be in line with Slot's prediction, should his words be taken to mean a return to team training will follow after the international break. If so, Chiesa would be unlikely to come into contention for the Reds' trip to Southampton on Sunday.

Exiled by Juventus prior to joining Liverpool, Chiesa was denied a proper pre-season and did not feature in any friendlies for the Serie A giants. Consequently, his last outing of any kind ahead of his Reds debut had came at the end of June when Italy were knocked out of Euro 2024, with his new club having to be both careful and patient with him as a result.

Slot is expected to offer an injury update on the likes of Chiesa and Alisson when he faces the media on Friday ahead of the Liverpool's trip to Southampton.