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Federico Chiesa fires Liverpool transfer response as brutal Arne Slot challenge set out

Federico Chiesa was on target for Liverpool - opening his account against Accrington Stanley.
-Credit:Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images


Liverpool returned to winnings ways with a 4-0 win over Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup third round. The Reds afforded to rest key players and offer minutes to those who haven't featured prominently in recent weeks as they avoided an upset against the League Two outfit.

There were opportunities for the likes of Harvey Elliott, who was unused in midweek which saw links with a move away from Merseyside emerge, and Darwin Nunez among others. Liverpool will be in Sunday's draw, taking place after Arsenal vs Manchester United, and the Reds will be sitting comfortably after an assured performance as they go into a crucial Premier League encounter with Nottingham Forest.

Arne Slot has remained calm throughout the recent outings, even more so after external panic alarms began to ring around Anfield following two games without a win. The Dutchman is heading into the business end of the season with important games every week, none more so than this season's surprise package under Nuno Espirito Santo.

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Slot will be keen to seek revenge over his first Liverpool defeat, and one that he didn't fail to mention in the weeks and months that followed. Following the win over Accrington, the Liverpool ECHO looks at latest headlines.

Darwin Nunez subject to scathing Robbie Fowler criticism

All in all, Nunez's struggles will be one of the talking points after Saturday's triumph, there were flashes of quality and impressive aspects of his link-up play. But his finishing left a lot to be desired.

The 25-year-old provided an assist for Diogo Jota to open the scoring but he couldn't get himself on the scoresheet, while Jayden Danns' goalscoring instinct was triggered when he was quickest to react to the rebound after Billy Crellin's save from Federico Chiesa.

Nunez continues to be critiqued for his performances and he was under the watchful eye of Liverpool goalscoring icon Robbie Fowler on Saturday. The 49-year-old was particularly critical of the high-profile Liverpool arrival ahead of the clash.

"Not quick enough in his thoughts, when he has time to think he struggles, his speed of thought as a striker has got to improve," Fowler said.

"You're not signing him to work hard, you've got to score goals, you've got to perform better, you've got to do better in that Liverpool shirt. The more I see him, the more I think he's not a Liverpool player."

Federico Chiesa answers transfer speculation with emphatic response

If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try - and if you're Chiesa - try again. The Italian got his well deserved Liverpool goal on Saturday but it wasn't easy for the former Fiorentina and Juventus man.

Introduced for the second-half, Anfield got a glimpse of what the £10million-attacker can really offer with front-footed attacking play. Already denied by the outside of the post, he had the inside of the woodwork to thank when his long-range effort fizzed into the bottom corner.

In what, surely, has been a frustrating time for Chiesa, he will be feeling much better to not only have a goal but open his account in front of the Kop.

He posted on Instagram: "YNWA" and a picture of him celebrating after the momentous occasion. Whilst Andy Robertson, Harvey Elliott and Kostas Tsimikas rushed to congratulate the summer signing.

The 27-year-old has been the topic of speculation this month with reports suggesting he could be in line for a return to Serie A - with Napoli seemingly increasingly resigned to losing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia this month. Chiesa's agent has dismissed the claim and outlets in Italy have claimed that he wants to remain at Anfield.

Liverpool could well have a very important player on their hands for the second half of the campaign and with a point to prove, Chiesa may well have extra vigour after tasting that goalscoring feeling again.