Federico Chiesa insists he is only "thinking about Liverpool" amid continued speculation over his future.

Across two seasons at Anfield under Arne Slot, the Italian forward has started one Premier League game and scored just five times in 50 appearances across all competitions.

The 28-year-old, who joined from Juventus in a deal worth £12.5m in 2024 and is contracted until 2028, told La Gazzetta dello Sport, external in June: "If I don't find consistency in the Premier League, I'll have to look elsewhere."

But after scoring in the first friendly of the Andoni Iraola era on Saturday, where Liverpool beat Sunderland 4-2, Chiesa told reporters: "Right now, at the moment, I am happy here at Liverpool. I love the club, I love the fans, I love everything.

"I am doing the best I can to have a chance here - and then we will see.

"At the minute, the only thing I am thinking about is Liverpool."

Asked whether it was a fresh start under new boss Iraola - appointed in June after Slot's dismissal - Chiesa added: "I don't know - it is difficult to say. It is always a fresh start at the beginning of the year.

"Maybe there have been too many fresh starts. But I don't care, I am trying to do my best for this new manager. Last season under Arne Slot, I was trying to do my best too.

"Last year, I felt ready for a bigger role; then it depended on the coach whether he wanted me to play or not. Of course I wanted to play more, but it is what it is.

"The gaffer decided to do so, he had his gameplans, he took his decisions, I have nothing to say about that. It is football. This year, let us say it is a new chapter. There is a new manager, and I have to focus on that."