Arne Slot has opened up on the difficulties facing Federico Chiesa, as the Liverpool winger continues to be linked with a January loan away from Anfield.

The Italian joined late in the transfer window and didn't get a chance to have much of a pre-season after being shunned by new Juventus manager Thiago Motta.

As a result, he's been limited to rare substitute appearances and minutes with the under-21s, though injury also hampered his road to the first team.

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As a result of his limited playing time, Chiesa has been tentatively linked with a move back to Italy, though Slot expressed in Friday's press conference that the winger isn't doing anything wrong, but is simply trying to oust one of the best players in the world, Mohamed Salah, from his spot in the starting XI.

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Slot said: "Like I said, every game is a chance for every player to get some playing time. It's not only for him been difficult because of all the things you said in terms of match fitness, it's also that he has to compete with the likes of Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Mo Salah.

"Everyone here knows the numbers Mo Salah brings, there's not many times or reasons to take him out during a game or before a game. Also because he's [Salah] so fit. He was the fittest player who came in in pre-season, he does everything every single game to keep his match fitness, he wants to play every game and he shows up every single game.

"It's not only about Federico when we talk about him being limited in his playing time, it's also about the others.

"In terms of Federico it definitely has to do with the way he came in, the rest were already training a lot and we had to bring him up in terms of match fitness. It was a combination of reasons why he didn't play yet.

"Let's see in the coming weeks and months if he'll be able to help us, because the second half of the season is more important than the first half."

Chiesa is expected to be handed a rare start on Saturday as Liverpool faces Accrington Stanley in the third round of the FA Cup.