Arne Slot gives devastating Giovanni Leoni injury update as Liverpool timeline set

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Arne Slot has confirmed Liverpool defender Giovanni Leoni has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury which will keep him out for a year in a crushing blow to the teenager.

Leoni, 18, suffered the injury on his debut for the club in Tuesday's 2-1 Carabao Cup third-round win over Southampton.

Slot said on Friday: "He is not in a good place because he tore his ACL which means he will be out around a year.

Leoni joined Liverpool from Roma for £26million in the summer.

He signed a six-year contract at Anfield.

"Being so young and coming to a new country and playing so well in your first game, it's very hard to take the positives," said Slot.

"There is never a positive side but you try to look at that and that is that he is still so young and he has so many years still go to after he recovers from a terrible injury."

The injury leaves Slot with just three recognised centre-backs in captain Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez for Saturday's trip to Crystal Palace.

Virgil, Ibou and Joe."

Leoni thanked fans for their support in a social media post this week.

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