Arne Slot facing Liverpool selection headache after serious injury exposes squad flaw
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Liverpool spent £450million in the summer transfer window and yet still ended it with a potential issue in their squad.
But more problematic was the serious knee injury suffered by Giovanni Leoni.
The 18-year-old centre-back, who joined the Reds in a £26million deal from Parma in August, was making his Liverpool debut at Anfield when he suffered a potentially season-ending injury.
It was a cruel blow for the young Italian and provides a real headache for Arne Slot.
The Liverpool boss saw his squad bolstered by the arrival of eight players in the summer, but the vast majority of the money spent went on attack, with Ekitike, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz the three most expensive additions.
Leoni, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong joined in defence, yet the club knew they had ended the transfer window short in central defence.
READ MORE:Liverpool fearing serious Giovanni Leoni injury in cruel blow for Arne SlotREAD MORE:Virgil van Dijk supported by Liverpool teammates after four-word Ballon d'Or message
The Reds sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen for £35m and Leoni was his replacement as a back-up centre-back.
With the England star’s contract expiring in the summer, there is the possibility that he could still arrive at Anfield, but the fact Liverpool were willing to pay £35m for him less than a month ago shows their need here and now.
Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are the undisputed No.1 pairing in central defence and were the bedrock to Liverpool’s success last season.
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