Italian international Federico Chiesa made his long-awaited return to the pitch after a three-month absence, participating in Liverpool’s 2-1 triumph over Southampton in the EFL Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday evening.

Chiesa, who joined Liverpool from Juventus in August, entered the game as a second-half substitute for Trent Alexander-Arnold. This marked only his fourth appearance for the Reds since his transfer.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot had previously hinted at Chiesa’s involvement in the cup tie, despite not including him in the starting lineup. The Italian forward’s introduction came as part of a tactical reshuffle at halftime.

Prior to Chiesa’s entry, Liverpool had established a 2-0 lead. Southampton managed to pull one back through Cameron Archer in the 59th minute, but the Reds held on to secure their place in the semi-finals.

This appearance was Chiesa’s first in any senior competition since September, bringing his total playing time since Italy’s exit from EURO 2024 to just over two hours in competitive matches.

Liverpool now awaits the outcome of the Tottenham vs. Manchester United fixture to determine their semi-final opponent in the EFL Cup.