Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph is a big achievement for a number of reasons. Any team that wins the title has done incredibly well, but doing so after losing a legend in Jurgen Klopp is especially impressive.
Arne Slot came in and took the club on seamlessly, with the Dutchman winning the title at the first attempt. And he did so by only signing one player —Federico Chiesa — who he has barely used.
Chiesa has been used so little — just four times in the Premier League to date — that there has been speculation that the Italian winger, signed from Juventus for just $13 million (£10 million) last summer, might miss out on a Premier League winners’ medal. However, as Liverpool.com has previously reported, that is not the case.
While players who reach at least five appearances in a Premier League campaign are guaranteed a medal, Liverpool will be given more that others can collect. Slot, for instance, will also be given one.
The Premier League rulebook leaves it mainly up to the winning club to decide how medals are distributed. “The champions are given 40 commemorative medals made of silver, which are 2.25 inches (5.7 centimeters) in diameter,” it reads.
“They can be distributed to the manager, players and officials, as the club see fit, as long as every player who has made at least five Premier League appearances during the title-winning season gets one.
(Image: Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
“Additional medals may only be presented with the consent of the Premier League Board. That will only be granted if more than 39 players have made at least five Premier League appearances during the campaign.”
Liverpool has used a total of 21 players more than five times so far this season. Chiesa has made four appearances but will still get a medal, while young goalkeeper Viteszlav Jaros has made one appearance, coming on at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace.
The Reds could opt to mix their team up for the remaining games this season now they are meaningless in terms of results. Chiesa, Harvey Elliott and Wataru Endo are among those who have not featured as much as they might like.
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Chiesa’s father, Enrico, has previously made clear that his son is happy at Anfield, however. “I can guarantee that Federico is very happy at Liverpool,” he told Tuttosport last month. “He is at a top club that is leading the Premier League, and now we hope he can win the title!”
Earlier this week, the Italian was linked with a move to Turkey with Jose Mourinho said to be keen on snapping him up this summer should he decide to move on in search of more minutes.
Liverpool.com says: Chiesa has been unfortunate this season, but he also hasn’t made the most of his opportunities. He might reasonably argue that they have been too sporadic for him to build momentum, but Slot has hardly been wrong with his decisions this season.
He sees Chiesa every day in training, as well as the likes of Mohamed Salah, who are his competition for game time. Starting Chiesa over Salah in a game that really mattered would have been a gamble considering how consistent the Egyptian has been.
