Giovanni Leoni injury latest after Liverpool defender stretchered off on full debut | OneFootball

The young Italian impressed against Southampton but faces an extended recovery period before he can return to the pitch

Liverpool centre-back Giovanni Leoni is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup win over Southampton.

The 18-year-old Italian was signed from Parma in the summer transfer window and made his full debut as Liverpool beat the Saints 2-1 in the third round of the Carabao Cup.

But his debut was cut short in the second half, as he left the pitch on a stretcher having landed awkwardly after a challenge. He is now set to spend several months on the sidelines.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano reports Leoni has torn his ACL, meaning he will likely require surgery and a recovery period of at least six months.

Leoni leaves the pitch on a stretcher after suffering an ACL injury

AFP via Getty Images

It is a crushing blow for the youngster, who had made a promising start to his Liverpool career and will now be lucky to return to the pitch this season.

The news is frustrating for Liverpool, too, who are thin at centre-back after failing in a bid to sign Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi on Deadline Day.

Leoni was visibly emotional immediately after the tackle, with head coach Arne Slot saying he immediately knew there was a serious problem.

Speaking after the match, he said of Leoni: "Of course, he is down because for him it didn’t feel good immediately, but this is something now we have to assess.

"Normally the emotions of a player tell you a lot. I saw during the weekend a player in the Dutch Eredivisie who went out completely in tears - Ruben van Bommel, by the way, of PSV - and a day later it proved to be that it was right.

"Let’s hope for the best."