Source:
Liverpool Echo:
What the ECHO spotted from Liverpool training session as summer signing Federico Chiesa catches the eye with Under-21s
"With Federico, it gives him a chance to build his fitness and get him ready for the season as well," coach Barry Lewtas explained to club media on Friday. "It obviously just gives our boys a little bit of a chance to play against someone of that quality [and] it's a really good learning opportunity for them."
While indeed a good learning opportunity to test themselves against the forward, they were also handed a torrid test by the Euro 2020 winner.
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It is why he declined an international call-up from Italy as a non-playing squad member this month, with the 26-year-old raring to go after being left out of the Reds' 3-0 victory away at Manchester United.
And the signs are good ahead of that home clash with Forest if the club's latest 'Inside Training' video is anything to go by, with Chiesa scoring a variety of goals while working with the Under-21s.
With academy summer signing Rio Ngumoha also involved, here's what the ECHO spotted from the latest session...
When Fede met Rio
Chiesa is no longer Liverpool's most recent signing if we include academy arrivals, and the Italian was quickly acquainted with Ngumoha ahead of Thursday's session.
The forward quickly greeted the 16-year-old after spotting him inside the AXA Training Centre ahead of heading out for the session.
"Ciao," he said to the former Chelsea man before shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you," with Ngumoha returning the greeting.
It might be the first time they pair have trained together, but if the England youth international lives up to the hype, it surely won't be the last.
Goals galore
In the video lasting nine minutes and 44 seconds, Chiesa was captured on camera scoring a whopping eight goals in a variety of exercises and short-sided training matches. And some of them really were spectacular.
He pounced on a weak backpass to score his first on camera, side-footing home past the goalkeeper with such pressing very much at home at Liverpool.
His second strike saw him receive the ball out on the right, sidestep a man then power a deflected effort across goal, while he earned a 'Brilliant Fede!' for another fierce first-time effort from James Norris' square past.
Chiesa's fourth goal saw him dribble across goal after cutting inside from the right before poking home with the outside of his right foot, while his fifth came courtesy of a similar run only to see this finish back across goal on his weaker left foot.
The sixth is the best of the lot and has already been shared widely on social media as the Italian curled into the top corner from distance, leaving his young team-mates stunned with one 'Oooooooh!' heard in the background.
Not done yet, his seventh goal saw the forward bring down a high diagonal pass on the left, cut inside to beat his man before powering a curling strike into the top corner. Meanwhile, his eighth goal of the video sees him receive the ball from the goalkeeper in the centre of the pitch, hold off a challenge, nutmeg a defender then sidefoot into the bottom corner.
Same against Forest, Fede.
Positional hint?
For the majority of such action, Chiesa was stationed on the right wing, supporting the theory that his primary role will be to act as a quality alternative to Mohamed Salah on the flank.
However, he is versatile and capable of playing anywhere across the front three, as demonstrated by the variety of his strikes.
Cutting in from the right-hand side, it was encouraging to see the Italian score with both his right and left foot. While only a training session with the Under-21s, this early evidence certainly suggests he is a more natural fit for such a role on the right.
Briggs backing Rio
First team individual development coach Aaron Briggs ran Thursday's training session, having essentially replaced Vitor Matos this summer, and he was vocal throughout the session as he offered plenty of encouragement to Ngumoha
"Very good, Rio. Good!" he was heard saying early on in the video. "Change direction. Yes, Rio. Good timing, time this run. Time this run. Brilliant."
While Ngumoha would not find the back of the net at the same rate as Chiesa, he showed glimpses of his talent as he repeatedly looked to cut in from the left onto his stronger right foot.
He was denied by the post on one such occasion after beating his man with a number of stepovers, earning a shout of, ''Unlucky Rio, unlucky' from one onlooker.
Friendly Fede
After the session, Chiesa made a point of going round each and every member of the playing group and staff to shake their hand. A lovely touch, he certainly seems to be making himself at home and appears to be settling in nicely.