Giovanni Leoni was having an outstanding Liverpool debut on Tuesday night, but it ended suddenly under concerning circumstances.
The 18-year-old started for the first time as Liverpool faced Southampton in the Carabao Cup and impressed throughout the match at Anfield. Paul Gorst from the Liverpool Echo described the Italian as a “huge prospect” who “didn’t put a foot wrong” during the game.
Unfortunately, Leoni had to be taken off with about 10 minutes left after awkwardly landing following a challenge near the sideline. He now faces an anxious wait for scan results to determine how serious the injury is.
What did Arne Slot say about Leoni’s injury?
In the post-match press conference, Arne Slot told liverpoolfc.com: “Of course, he’s upset because it didn’t feel good right away, but we need to assess it properly. These injuries usually don’t reveal their severity in just five to ten minutes. We’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see how he feels and probably do an MRI to find out more.”
Slot also referenced a recent example from the Dutch Eredivisie, where a PSV player, Ruben van Bommel, was visibly upset after an injury, which later turned out to be serious. “Let’s hope for the best,” Slot added.
An injury expert on X (@physioscout) gave a cautious analysis, noting limited footage makes it hard to be certain, but the way Leoni’s knee bent and twisted could indicate a possible ACL injury.
If the scan shows only bruising, Leoni might return in about a week. However, a meniscus problem could sideline him for three to four months, and an ACL injury would likely end his season.
Hoping for the best for Leoni
Slot’s initial comments sounded worrying, and his mention of Van Bommel’s serious injury isn’t a positive sign.
The injury analyst also pointed out that physios appeared prepared to perform a Lachman’s test—a specific test for ACL damage.
If the worst is true, it would be devastating for Leoni, who showed so much promise on his debut and now faces the possibility of a long spell out after just one appearance.
For now, we wait for the scan results, hoping the injury is minor and that the young player will soon have the chance to build on his impressive first game, unhindered by this unfortunate setback.
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