Liverpool's New Summer Signing Dealt Devastating Knee Injury Blow
Liverpool's summer acquisition Giovanni Leoni is set for an extended period on the sidelines following reports that he sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury during his first appearance against Southampton.
The 18-year-old defender required lengthy medical attention at Anfield after a heavy challenge in the 2-1 Carabao Cup victory left the Italian in considerable pain—though initially many believed the concern was linked to the head knock Leoni sustained when falling to the ground.
Leoni, who joined from Parma for £30 million ($40.7 million) including potential add-ons, was ultimately carried off on a stretcher, with head coach Arne Slot acknowledging after the match that he was "hoping for the best," but reports from the Daily Mail and Sky Italy suggest that Liverpool's concerns about a serious injury have been confirmed.
No recovery timeline has been established for Leoni's potential return, and Liverpool have yet to release any official statement regarding the situation. However, if Leoni has indeed ruptured his ACL, he may face a lengthy rehabilitation process that could keep him out until the end of the 2025–26 season—such injuries typically require six to nine months for recovery, though some players need over a year before returning to competitive action.
Leoni had delivered an impressive debut performance for Liverpool, successfully completing 88 of his 91 attempted passes (97%) alongside Joe Gomez in central defense. His display was praised by Slot as "excellent", though understandably the Dutch manager's post-match discussion quickly turned to concerns about the defender's potential absence.
Slot: Leoni Knew Something Was Wrong Immediately
"Obviously, he's disappointed because he sensed something wasn't right straight away, but this is something we need to evaluate properly," Slot explained during his post-match media briefing at Anfield. "Usually these situations don't resolve themselves in five to 10 minutes and you need to wait until the following day to see how he feels and potentially arrange an MRI scan to determine the severity.
"Typically a player's reaction tells you everything. I witnessed over the weekend a player in the Dutch Eredivisie who left the field in complete distress—Ruben van Bommel from PSV, actually—and the next day it was confirmed his fears were justified.
"Let's remain optimistic."
Slot had rested his first-choice center-backs Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, but now confronts limited defensive options as Liverpool enters a demanding fixture schedule. Having advanced to the Carabao Cup fourth round, the Reds must now balance domestic cup commitments with Premier League and Champions League obligations.
Liverpool had pursued Crystal Palace skipper Marc Gúehi during the summer transfer window, but a £35 million deal collapsed at the final moment when the Eagles couldn't secure a replacement before the deadline.
Liverpool's Options During Leoni's Recovery
Analysis by Toby Cudworth
Van Dijk, Konaté and Gomez represent Liverpool's remaining natural center-backs, and Slot will face challenges managing their playing time throughout the upcoming months.
Milos Kerkez stepped in to replace Leoni for the remaining minutes against Southampton, though it's doubtful the former Bournemouth fullback will be considered a long-term solution. Defensive midfielder Waturu Endo has previously covered during injury emergencies at Liverpool, and he might be utilized again against weaker Premier League teams or when matches are safely won.
Andy Robertson represents another emergency option if necessary, but similar to Kerkez he's naturally left-footed—this won't particularly assist Slot since Van Dijk typically operates on the left side of central defense and would require repositioning.
Leoni's injury also raises the possibility of Liverpool renewing their pursuit of Gúehi in January, despite his availability as a free transfer next summer. Delaying also creates the risk of international competition—clubs like Real Madrid or Barcelona, for instance, could begin contract discussions with his agents in January without requiring Palace's consent.