Federico Chiesa in DANGER of missing out on Premier League medal

Liverpool are tantalisingly close to claiming a first Premier League title since 2020. Arne Slot made a record-breaking start to his tenure as the Reds’ new head coach following the departure of Jurgen Klopp.

The Anfield side ascended to the top of the table for the first time on matchday six having beaten Wolves at Molineux and, other than a brief hiatus on matchday nine following a draw with Arsenal, they have been there every day since.

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It’s been a truly remarkable achievement with Liverpool all but ending a title “race” against also-rans Arsenal over the course of the past few weeks.

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Slot’s men now have what appears to be an unassailable 15-point lead over the Gunners in second place and it won’t be long until their status as champions for 2024/25 is confirmed.

Attentions will then turn to medals.

Five Premier League games for a medal

“The champions are given 40 commemorative medals made of silver, which are 2.25in (5.7cm) in diameter,” according to the Premier League.

“They can be distributed to the manager, players and officials, as the club see fit, as long as every player who has made at least five Premier League appearances during the title-winning season gets one.

“Additional medals may only be presented with the consent of the Premier League Board, and that will only be granted if more than 39 players have made at least five PL appearances during the campaign.”

Liverpool currently have 21 players eligible for a Premier League winners’ medal after 29 matchdays. The contingent is led by Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Ryan Gravenberch, who have played 29 matches out of 29.

At the other end of that scale is Caoimhin Kelleher who, despite being behind Alisson Becker in the goalkeeping pecking order, has already played eight matches - enough to warrant a medal.

But Liverpool currently have several players in the first-team squad who, if things don’t change, won’t be entitled to claim a medal in the event of a title win.

Chiesa hasn't done enough for a medal

Some have featured in Premier League matchday squads without setting foot on the pitch. If that situation doesn’t change then Tyler Morton, Trey Nyoni, Harvey Davies, James McConnell and Amara Nallo won’t be entitled to a medal.

Perhaps Morton can count himself most unlucky there as he’s appeared in EIGHT top-flight squads without getting so much as a minute’s worth of action. He is currently out injured, meaning his season is set to end on an unsatisfactory note from a medal perspective.

Three Liverpool players have played in the league but beneath the five-game threshold. Like reserve goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros, Jayden Danns has played once in the league but Danns is on loan at Sunderland for the rest of the season, meaning he won’t get a chance to add to his solitary outing.

The player who should be most alarmed about his medal prospects however is Federico Chiesa. The new signing has barely amassed 25 minutes of Premier League action across only THREE appearances and is currently in line to miss out on a medal.

This is not the type of season the Italian winger envisaged having when he joined from Juventus and demonstrates exactly the kind of bit-part role he’s had at Anfield since joining.

We can hope that Slot’s relatively tight group of players means there will be a surplus of medals once the staff and officials are sorted out.

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That in turn could ensure those who featured in and around the first-team squad will pocket a medal. But time is running out to qualify automatically for a medal with only nine matches remaining. Chiesa needs to impress Arne Slot and fast.

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