Giovanni Leoni takes to social media after suffering serious knee injury

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Image Credits: Giovanni Leoni (Instagram)

Liverpool defender Giovanni Leoni is set for months on the sidelines after suffering a suspected anterior cruciate ligament injury on his debut.

The 18-year-old featured for 81 minutes in Tuesday’s 2-1 Carabao Cup third-round victory over Southampton before being forced off with the problem.

Leoni, who joined the Reds from Parma in August, has since undergone tests on his left knee.

Results confirmed damage to his ACL, which is likely to rule the teenager out for most of the season.

“Of course, he is down because for him it didn’t feel good immediately, but this is something now we have to assess,” Slot told his post-match press conference at Anfield on Tuesday night.

“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.”

The setback leaves Arne Slot with only three recognised centre-backs to call upon, including Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, and Joe Gomez.

Leoni posted on Instagram: “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.

“Thank you so much!”

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