Giovanni Leoni was enjoying a hugely impressive Liverpool debut on Tuesday night, only for it to end abruptly in worrying circumstances.
The 18-year-old was named in the starting XI for the first time as the Reds took on Southampton in the Carabao Cup, and he gave an excellent account of himself at Anfield, with the Liverpool Echo‘s Paul Gorst writing that the Italian ‘looks a huge prospect’ and ‘didn’t put a foot wrong’ on the night.
Sadly, he had to be substituted with 10 minutes remaining after landing awkwardly following a challenge on the touchline, and he’s now left with a nervous wait for the results of a scan to determine the severity of the problem.
What did Arne Slot say about Leoni injury?
Speaking about Leoni in his post-match press conference, Arne Slot said (via liverpoolfc.com): “Of course, he is down because for him it didn’t feel good immediately, but this is something now we have to assess.
“Normally these things don’t happen in five to 10 minutes and you have to wait for tomorrow to see how he comes in and then maybe do an MRI scan to know more about how serious it is.
“Normally the emotions of a player tell you a lot. I saw during the weekend a player in the Dutch Eredivisie who went out completely in tears – Ruben van Bommel, by the way, of PSV – and a day later it proved to be that it was right. Let’s hope for the best.”
Injury analyst @physioscout on X provided an objective assessment after the match, outlining that the ‘extremely limited video’ makes it difficult to judge, but the ‘knee collapsing in and pivoting nature’ could be ‘suspicious of an ACL injury’.
They added that Leoni could be back within a week if the scan reveals nothing more than bruising, but a meniscus issue could sideline him for three to four months, and an ACL would end his season.
Fingers crossed it isn’t a serious injury for Leoni
Slot’s immediate assessment had an ominous tone, and his citation of Van Bommel’s devastating blow doesn’t seem encouraging.
The observations of the injury analyst also hint at the possibility of the worst-case scenario, noting that the physios ‘seemed to have readied Leoni in a position to do a Lachmann’s test – to test for an ACL rupture’.
If that nightmare situation comes to pass, it’d be heartbreaking for the youngster, who looked so promising on his Liverpool debut and could now have his season cut short after only one appearance.
For now, we must await the scan results and pray that they reveal nothing more than minor damage to the 18-year-old’s knee, and that he’ll soon have the opportunity to build upon his excellent outing last night before fate’s cruel intervention.
Yes we are all hoping for the best for Leoni.
We wish him well
Come back stronger Leoni…
You’re already looking good enough to play for the Reds.
Heartbreaking for the lad on his debut, but he’ll come back stronger.
Remember, he’s still a teenager. He should heal fast….
Unfortunately, it leaves the Reds shorter on cover at CB for a while.
Fingers crossed Virgil, Ibou and Joe stay fit at least until January if we’re forced to buy elsewhere).erer
The big concern now is there’s no injuries to van dijk or konate because if there is our season is over. Playing midfielders there won’t solve anything. You can’t rely on Gomez who was poor on Tuesday he kept giving the ball away which led to a Southampton goal. Liverpool now could be sorry we never brought in a central defender, haggling over 5 million for Marc guehi was inept. He will now join Real Madrid on a free transfer, so will konate. So at some stage we need 3 central defenders, and you won’t get a good one for 35 million.
Still not adhering to the facts, Misty ?
More no-can-do attitude ?
Palace wouldn’t let Guehi go. They couldn’t/wouldn’t get cover in time.
Glasner threw his weight around, so Parrish knew the situation would be costlier to the club if he sacked him.
West Ham gazumped them for the Brighton lad.
The price offered is the price he is worth.
Once LFC, or any of the clubs that generate bigger profits than the medium sized clubs start to get held ransom over £5m here, £7m there, the structure falls apart and the market becomes susceptible to abuse.
Don’t you think it is already obscene given the kind of wages the average worker takes home, to have such huge sums thrown in their faces from every back page ?
Competition has taken prices to this point because the TV money has increased the ability of the clubs to pay it.
It is what it is because the market has made it so.
It doesn’t mean we should further inflate it when it isn’t necessary.
Smaller clubs are crying out for a more level playing field on the financial side.
This policy would at least curb some inflationary forces.
Properly enforced PSR should also keep things from getting out of control.
Ps. Latest on Guehi is he still wishes to join LFC. Whether that’s in January or the summer is the question.
Keep up, lad.