Arne Slot has confirmed that Liverpool defender Giovanni Leoni will be sidelined for around a year after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.
The 18-year-old, who joined from Parma in the recent transfer window, was making his debut when he was forced off late in the game.
Speaking in Friday’s press conference ahead of the Premier League trip to Crystal Palace, Slot revealed the extent of the damage.
“He is not in a good place because he tore his ACL which means he will be out for around a year,” said the Liverpool manager. “Coming to a new country, playing so well, and then this happens.
“The only positive is that he has so many years ahead of him to recover from such a terrible injury.”
Earlier this week, Leoni shared his emotions with supporters in a social media post. “I want to sincerely thank every single person who has shown me support in this difficult moment. It wasn’t the debut I had always dreamed of, but I will give everything to be back playing in this magical stadium as soon as possible,” he wrote.
The setback leaves Liverpool short in central defence, with only Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez available as recognised centre-backs. Slot has suggested that Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch could be asked to fill in if required.
The timing adds an extra twist ahead of Sunday’s clash with Crystal Palace, where Liverpool will come up against Marc Guehi. The England international was the subject of a late transfer deadline bid from Liverpool, but Palace refused to sell.
Slot dismissed any suggestion that he will approach the match thinking about what might have been. “We focus on the players we have, and I believe strongly in their qualities,” he said.
