Liverpool defender Giovanni Leoni faces a fight to feature again this season after sustaining a torn anterior cruciate ligament injury.
The 18-year-old took an awkward fall during Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Southampton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.
It marked a disastrous end to what had been a promising debut for the teenager, who won 100% of his aerial duels and was Liverpool’s most accurate passer on the night.
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed the news that Leoni has sustained a torn ACL. He faces an uphill battle to return before the end of the campaign.
It’s a big blow to Arne Slot, who signed the youngster from Parma to provide much needed defensive depth.
Liverpool now have just three senior centre-back options in Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez, following a failed pursuit of Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi in the summer. Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch have previously deputised in central defence.
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