Chiesa on Liverpool’s readiness to tackle aerial long balls in their Carabao Cup clash against Crystal Palace.
Chiesa backs Liverpool to deal with any long-ball threat in Palace test.
According to Federico Chiesa, Arne Slot’s team will have solutions for any long-ball strategies used by Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup, and Liverpool’s problems are temporary.
This season, Liverpool has suffered two losses to Palace; the loss at Selhurst Park last month was the beginning of a disastrous run of five losses in six games. On Wednesday, when the clubs reunite at Anfield, Slot must decide how much of his rotation to use in light of his previous performance and injuries.
Following Saturday’s most recent loss to Brentford, the head coach acknowledged that Liverpool “haven’t found an answer yet” to the sort of play they frequently see. This includes long balls, set pieces, and low blocks, but Chiesa is confident the Premier League winners will be prepared to deal with that strategy in the fourth-round match.
“We have players that are world class and that can be put in any situation and will perform, so I don’t see any problem,” the Liverpool forward said.
“If Crystal Palace wants to play long ball and long throw-ins they are more than welcome to do so, because we’re going to answer them with high intensity and winning duels, and trying to win. I don’t know if you say this in English but [in Italy] we say: ‘Winning brings winning.’ So we want to win tomorrow. That’s it.”
Chiesa admitted that the task of assimilating several new players is not the only issue with the side.
“It’s many reasons and there’s not just one thing,” he said. “We’re not winning. At the beginning of the season we were winning and no one was questioning this and that. Unfortunately it’s not [a good time] but I always think positive and I hope we’re going to bounce back. We have the quality and the players to do so and we have a fantastic manager so I don’t see any trouble. I hope there’s not going to be any trouble in the future.”