Federico Chiesa’s move from Juventus to Liverpool last summer was met with excitement, but the Italian forward now finds himself in a precarious position. If Liverpool secures the Premier League title, he may not automatically qualify for a winners’ medal. The Reds currently hold an 11-point lead with less than a third of the season remaining, and while Arsenal has a game in hand, their recent form and injury setbacks make overtaking Liverpool a daunting challenge. No team in Premier League history has ever squandered such a commanding lead at this stage, making Liverpool’s triumph seem inevitable. However, Chiesa has only made three league appearances this season and needs two more to meet the five-game requirement for an automatic medal.
Despite this, there is still a possibility he could receive one. The Premier League grants the champions 40 medals, which can be distributed at the club’s discretion after all players who meet the five-match threshold have been awarded theirs. Even if Chiesa doesn’t reach the required appearances, Liverpool could choose to recognize his contributions by allocating him a medal.
His limited involvement under manager Arne Slot has been largely due to fitness struggles. The 27-year-old has seen only seven minutes of Premier League action since September, making it difficult for him to stake a claim for more playing time. With Liverpool still competing on multiple fronts, including the Champions League and domestic cup competitions, Slot will likely need to rotate his squad in the coming weeks. However, breaking into the starting XI remains a challenge, particularly on the right wing, where Mohamed Salah continues to dominate with exceptional performances.
Competition is just as fierce on the left flank, with Luis Díaz, Diogo Jota, Curtis Jones, and Cody Gakpo all battling for minutes. This depth in attacking options has further limited Chiesa’s opportunities, leaving his chances of earning a league medal uncertain. He isn’t the only Liverpool player in this predicament. Jayden Danns, who has featured in both the Premier League and Champions League this season, is four games short of qualifying and won’t add to his tally after being loaned to Sunderland. Backup goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaroš also needs four more appearances, but with Alisson and Caoimhín Kelleher now fit, his chances of playing look slim. Other young talents, including Trey Nyoni, Tyler Morton, and James McConnell, are all five games away from eligibility and are unlikely to meet the threshold.
Despite spending much of the season on the sidelines, Chiesa has still managed to make 10 appearances across all competitions, scoring three goals. While his impact has been limited, his ability to contribute in key moments hasn’t gone unnoticed. The situation he faces isn’t unique, as several high-profile players in the past have narrowly missed out on automatic Premier League medals. Last season, Kalvin Phillips made just four appearances for Manchester City and failed to qualify, while Cole Palmer, now a key player for Chelsea, found himself in a similar position in the 2021/22 campaign.
Liverpool has experienced this scenario before. During their title-winning 2019/20 season, Harvey Elliott fell three games short of receiving a medal, while Curtis Jones narrowly avoided the same fate, having played six times. This season, both players have secured their places in Liverpool’s plans, with Elliott making 10 league appearances and Jones featuring in 22. If the Reds do go on to lift the title, they will rightfully receive recognition for their contributions.
As the season nears its conclusion, Chiesa will be hoping for more opportunities to ensure he qualifies for a medal. If not, Liverpool will have a decision to make on whether to reward him for his efforts. With the Premier League title seemingly within reach, the Italian forward’s place in the club’s success story remains uncertain, but his journey at Anfield is far from over.
