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Giovanni Leoni Faces Long Spell on the Sidelines After ACL Injury

Liverpool have been dealt a significant setback with Giovanni Leoni ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering a serious knee injury on his debut.

Leoni injury confirmed after Carabao Cup blow

The 18-year-old defender sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury during the Carabao Cup third-round clash with Southampton. It was a cruel twist of fate for a player who had only joined Liverpool from Parma in August, and whose first appearance in red ended prematurely.

Following medical examinations, Leoni has undergone surgery and is expected to be sidelined for up to 12 months. Manager Arne Slot admitted the setback has left the teenager devastated, but stressed that his age means there remains ample time for recovery and a promising career ahead.

“He tore his ACL which means he will be out for a year,” said Slot. “Being so young and coming to a new country, playing so well in your first game, it’s very hard to take the positives. But the fact that he is just 18 gives him many years to come back stronger.”

Squad depth stretched at centre-back

Leoni’s absence has immediate implications for Liverpool’s defensive resources. With the Italian sidelined, Slot now has only Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté and Joe Gomez as recognised senior centre-backs. That reality places additional strain on squad depth as the season progresses across multiple competitions.

The Liverpool boss acknowledged the challenge but also pointed to the collective spirit within the dressing room, suggesting that established players would help Leoni through the difficult months ahead.

Support from teammates with shared experiences

Slot highlighted that Leoni is not the first Liverpool player to endure such a setback. Both Van Dijk and Gomez have previously returned from serious knee injuries and are seen as key figures in offering guidance and reassurance to the youngster.

“That definitely helps,” Slot explained. “We have examples within our own squad, and across football, of players who have overcome similar injuries and returned to the highest level. The positive is that Giovanni is young, and he has time. If such an injury happens later in your career it can be more difficult, but in both cases it is never ideal.”

The manager added that beyond medical expertise, the presence of experienced teammates who understand the physical and emotional challenges of recovery will prove invaluable. He praised the dressing room for rallying around Leoni in recent days, offering the “compassion and energy” required to sustain him during the rehabilitation process.

Long road to recovery ahead

While the timeline for recovery is expected to rule Leoni out until next season, Liverpool believe he has both the resilience and support structure required to come back stronger. With modern medical treatment, specialist rehabilitation, and encouragement from his teammates, the teenager has a foundation on which to rebuild his career.

Leoni himself took to social media following the operation to thank fans for their support and to express determination to return. For both club and player, the next year will be one of patience and perseverance, with the hope that this early setback does not define what promises to be a long career at the highest level.