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Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that Federico Chiesa is set to miss the Reds' Champions League clash against Bologna on Wednesday, October 2. Slot stated that although Chiesa trained with the team on Monday, he was dealing with "some problems".
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Slot has confirmed that Chiesa was looking forward to playing at Anfield in the UEFA Champions League. However, things have not gone his way and he will miss the match this week. He said (via the club's official website):
"Federico trained with us yesterday and came in today with some problems, and I'm not expecting him to be in the team tomorrow. Which is a pity for us but of course for him even more. He was looking forward to a Champions League night at Anfield and especially because we're facing an Italian team. It's a pity for him but he will be there [in the future], many more nights to come for him."
However, it is not all bad news as Slot added that Portuguese forward Diogo Jota will be back in the squad. He missed the Reds' 2-1 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers but is now fit again. The manager said:
"Diogo missed out on two sessions after the game against Wolves. He took a knock. I'm expecting him to be with us tomorrow, that he's available to play."
Liverpool have started the season well and won 3-1 at AC Milan in their first UEFA Champions League match of the season. They will be hoping to make it two wins in two in the European competition.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot on facing Bologna in Champions League
Talking about the Reds' upcoming fixture, Slot stated that he is not taking Bologna lightly and claimed that the Serie A side are difficult to beat. He added that the Italian side should not be underestimated (via Liverpool.com):
"I think Bologna showed last season and this season again that they're a real difficult team to beat, because everybody is telling me they only won once - yeah, but I tell them they only lost once. That means it's a difficult team to beat, and we as Liverpool know how difficult it can be to play against a team that's man-marking all over the pitch which is what Bologna does and what Atalanta did here last season."
"To face an Italian team at Champions League level, and we know how difficult it was to face an Italian team at Europa League level, so we don't underestimate them at all, because that's not what they deserve for the way they played last season and even this season."
Liverpool are playing at Anfield in the UEFA Champions League for the first time under Arne Slot.
