Liverpool might make a last-minute adjustment to their Champions League squad thanks to a new UEFA rule introduced just weeks ago.
The Reds began their European journey with a thrilling 3-2 win against Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday. They followed this up with a 2-1 victory over Everton in the Merseyside derby on Saturday and another late goal secured a 2-1 win over Southampton in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
Although it was another positive outcome for Arne Slot’s team midweek, not everything went smoothly for the Dutch manager. Hugo Ekitike received a red card for what Slot called a “stupid” celebration—removing his shirt after scoring against Southampton—while young defender Giovanni Leoni appeared to suffer a serious injury on his debut.
Leoni, who joined Liverpool this summer from Parma for £26 million, twisted awkwardly during a challenge near the touchline and was stretchered off.
After the match, Slot admitted he wasn’t sure how bad Leoni’s injury was. “He’s down because it didn’t feel good right away,” said Slot. “We need to assess it properly, and usually, you can’t tell in just five to ten minutes. We’ll wait until tomorrow, then maybe do an MRI to get a clearer picture.”
If Leoni’s injury turns out to be serious, it could allow Liverpool to use a UEFA rule “loophole” to replace him in their Champions League squad ahead of their next match against Galatasaray in Istanbul on Tuesday.
UEFA recently updated their squad regulations for the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League this season, allowing clubs to temporarily replace one outfield player who suffers a ‘long-term’ injury or illness up until the sixth matchday in December.
UEFA defines a ‘long-term’ injury or illness as one lasting at least 60 days from the date it occurred. Even if the player recovers sooner, they cannot return to the squad if they’ve been replaced.
Chelsea have already used this rule, bringing in Facundo Buonanotte for the injured Dario Essugo, and Nottingham Forest replaced Ola Aina with Oleksandr Zinchenko similarly.
While the extent of Leoni’s injury is still unknown, Slot will review the options once Liverpool’s medical team provides a full update.
As for a potential replacement, Federico Chiesa—the other Italian in Liverpool’s squad—was notably left out of the initial Champions League list due to limited game time. However, his strong performance against Southampton, where he assisted twice, has fans calling for his inclusion.
One fan joked on X, “Chiesa not being in the Champions League squad is genuinely a crime,” while another called it “a disgrace.”
Chiesa was excluded because Liverpool’s squad could only include 17 non-homegrown players, but Leoni’s possible absence might free up a spot for him.
That said, Slot might opt for a like-for-like replacement, with centre-back Rhys Williams being the most logical choice to fill Leoni’s role.
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