Giovanni Leoni was having an outstanding debut for Liverpool on Tuesday night, but it came to an abrupt and concerning end.
The 18-year-old was handed his first senior start as Liverpool faced Southampton in the Carabao Cup, and he impressed at Anfield. According to Paul Gorst of the Liverpool Echo, Leoni appeared to be a “huge prospect” and performed flawlessly throughout the game.
Unfortunately, his night was cut short with about 10 minutes remaining when he landed awkwardly after a challenge near the sideline. He now faces an anxious wait for scan results to find out the extent of the injury.
What did Arne Slot say about Leoni’s injury?
Speaking after the match, Liverpool manager Arne Slot told Liverpoolfc.com:
“Of course, he’s feeling down because it didn’t feel right immediately, but now we need to properly assess the situation.
“Injuries like this usually can’t be diagnosed straight away — we’ll need to see how he is tomorrow and possibly do an MRI scan to determine the severity.
“Often, a player’s initial reaction can tell you a lot. Just this past weekend in the Dutch Eredivisie, Ruben van Bommel of PSV left the pitch in tears, and it turned out his instincts were sadly correct. Let’s hope that’s not the case here.”
Injury analysis and potential outcomes
Following the match, injury analyst @physioscout shared thoughts on X, stating that due to limited footage, it’s hard to be certain, but the way Leoni’s knee appeared to collapse and twist could indicate a potential ACL injury.
They noted that if the issue is only bruising, Leoni might be back in action within a week. A meniscus injury could see him sidelined for three to four months, while an ACL tear would likely end his season.
There were also signs that medical staff were preparing to perform a Lachman’s test — often used to check for ACL damage — which raises further concern.
Hoping for good news
Slot’s comments, combined with comparisons to Van Bommel’s serious injury, paint a worrying picture. The early analysis adds to the unease, with even a slight possibility that this could be a long-term setback.
If the worst-case scenario proves true, it would be a heartbreaking turn for Leoni, who had shown such promise in his first Liverpool appearance. For now, all eyes are on the scan results — and everyone will be hoping it’s nothing more than a minor issue so the teenager can continue building on a brilliant debut.
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