Leoni tipped to make Liverpool debut after Slot admission | OneFootball

Italian centre-back Giovanni Leoni is tipped to make his Liverpool debut tonight as the Reds meet Southampton in the EFL Cup third round.

Promising Italian defender Leoni could make his Liverpool debut tonight when the Premier League giants host Southampton in the EFL Cup third round (kick-off time at 21:00 CET, 20:00 BST).

Slot admits Leoni could make Liverpool debut

Liverpool coach Arne Slot (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Slot spoke at a press conference on the eve of the game and when asked whether Alexander Isak, Leoni and Giorgi Mamardashvili could get some minutes in tonight’s fixture, he replied: “Yeah, we can go through all of them – Wata Endo and a few more.

“These are the players that need a game and we’re happy that we have one. If we wouldn’t have had one, we probably would have arranged a friendly in this week for these players because they need to play games as well to keep them ready whenever we need them.

“We’ve used quite a lot in the last three games because we thought we needed to keep this energy throughout all the three games – but not all of them. And the few we haven’t used, it’s definitely the perfect moment for them to get playing time.”

Liverpool’s probable XI vs. Southampton: Chiesa and Leoni expected to start

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: Federico Chiesa of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St James’ Park on August 25, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

Leoni joined Liverpool in a €31m deal from Parma during the summer transfer window but has yet to make his debut with the Reds.

According to Standard.co.uk, Leoni is expected to start in Liverpool’s four-man defence tonight.

Leoni’s compatriot Federico Chiesa is also likely to feature in the Reds’ starting XI. The ex-Juventus star has made four substitute appearances in the Premier League so far this season, scoring one goal.