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Liverpool's Federico Chiesa has departed Italy's training camp prior to their crucial World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland due to an injury setback.
Chiesa joined the Italian squad at the Federal Technical Center near Florence after appearing as a substitute in the closing 13 minutes of Liverpool's Premier League loss to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. However, after medical evaluation, he was ruled unfit for selection.
Following consultation with Liverpool, the choice was made for him to return home, with Bologna's Nicolò Cambiaghi receiving an immediate call-up as his replacement.
Italy must defeat Northern Ireland in their playoff semifinal to maintain hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup, with the victor then meeting either Wales or Bosnia & Herzegovina in the Path A final. The Azzurri missed out on qualification in both 2018 and 2022 and face the genuine prospect of a third consecutive World Cup absence, which would be an incredible disappointment for the four-time winners.
The setback is particularly disappointing for Chiesa who, after another campaign spent largely on Liverpool's periphery with most appearances coming as a substitute, had received his first Italy selection since Euro 2024. Now, having missed this chance to make a direct impression on Italy boss Gennaro Gattuso, his prospects of World Cup inclusion—should Italy actually qualify—appear increasingly dim.
Liverpool Have Other Bigger Injury Concerns
The duration of Chiesa's absence remains unclear. However, injuries to Alisson and Hugo Ekitiké represent more pressing concerns for Liverpool at present.
Alisson's last appearance came in the Champions League victory over Galatasaray before sitting out the Brighton fixture. Arne Slot provided no recovery timeline when questioned about the goalkeeper's condition following the Seagulls defeat, stating only that he will "definitely be out" during this international window.
After withdrawing from Brazil's squad, Alisson confirmed through an Instagram story that he anticipates being "out of action for a while."
Ekitiké's situation appears less serious. The French striker, who saw himself essentially replaced by Alexander Isak just weeks after his summer transfer, has been Liverpool's primary goalscorer this campaign with 17 strikes in all competitions.
His early departure after only eight minutes at the Amex Stadium was naturally concerning, but Slot described it as merely a "dead leg" and suggested Ekitiké could return immediately "if he needed to."
Chiesa Absence Could Be a Chance for Liverpool's New Star
Following his match-winning goal as a substitute against Bournemouth on the season's opening weekend in August, Chiesa has struggled for regular playing time. While his 32 appearances may seem substantial, they total merely 673 minutes—averaging 21 minutes per outing.
Based on the length of his absence, those additional opportunities might go to Rio Ngumoha, whom Slot praised for having "few very nice actions" after his Brighton cameo.
Liverpool supporters have been eager to see more of the promising 17-year-old this season. Though versatile enough to play right wing, he primarily operates on the left flank and has made 21 senior appearances—featuring in each of the club's previous five Premier League fixtures.