Liverpool defender Giovanni Leoni sidelined for several months with ACL tear | OneFootball

Liverpool have been dealt a major setback with confirmation that Giovanni Leoni has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The teenage centre back sustained the damage during his debut in the League Cup win against Southampton on Tuesday night.

Leoni, 18, had impressed with his calmness and composure in defence before going down after a collision near the touchline in the second half.

He was visibly distressed as he left the pitch, and scans carried out earlier today confirmed the extent of the damage.

The Italian is now expected to spend the rest of the season on the sidelines, with recovery from an ACL tear usually ranging from nine to twelve months.

It represents a crushing blow for the player, who had only just broken into the first team, and for Arne Slot, who had praised his maturity after the tie.

Leoni’s absence leaves Liverpool light in central defence, particularly after the collapse of their late move for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi this summer.

Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez are the only remaining senior centre backs available, while Rhys Williams could be called upon as cover after featuring on the bench against Southampton.

Van Dijk himself endured a nine-month layoff following the same injury in 2020, highlighting the long road ahead for the youngster.

The timing is especially difficult given Liverpool’s commitments across the Premier League, Champions League and domestic cups.

UEFA’s new rules on squad registration could offer some flexibility, as players ruled out by long-term injuries can now be replaced.

That opens the door for Federico Chiesa, who missed out on the original Champions League squad list, to be drafted in.

The 27-year-old forward was a surprise omission and could now benefit from the enforced change.

Slot had hinted after the Southampton match that the situation was serious, pointing to Leoni’s emotions as an early indication.

“Of course he’s down, because for him it didn’t feel good immediately,” the Dutchman told reporters. “Normally, the emotions of a player tell you a lot.”

The diagnosis now confirms Slot’s fears and denies Liverpool the chance to further integrate one of Italy’s brightest young defenders.

For Leoni, rehabilitation begins immediately, with the aim of returning stronger in 2026 after the cruel interruption to his promising start.