‘It looks like…’ – Fabrizio Romano update on Leoni injury hints at nightmare news for Liverpool

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Giovanni Leoni, the 18-year-old Liverpool defender, suffered a concerning knee injury during his debut in Liverpool's 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Southampton. The Italian defender was stretchered off after landing awkwardly following a challenge on the touchline around the 81st minute, cutting short an impressive performance where he demonstrated strong passing accuracy, tackles, clearances, and was scarcely beaten by Southampton forwards.

Manager Arne Slot expressed immediate concern, noting that the injury "didn't feel good" for Leoni right away. He indicated that the severity of the injury would only be apparent after further medical assessment and an MRI scan, typically expected the following day. Slot referenced a similar situation in the Dutch Eredivisie where a player left the field in tears, which later proved a serious injury, underscoring the gravity of Leoni’s situation.

Analysis by injury experts shared by Empire of the Kop highlighted how limited video evidence makes diagnosis difficult but said the "knee collapsing in and pivoting nature" of Leoni's injury is suspicious of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. The injury analyst explained that if scans reveal only bruising, Leoni could return within a week; a meniscus injury might sideline him for 3-4 months, while an ACL rupture could end his season.

The potential ACL injury poses a significant setback for Liverpool, given Leoni's promise and the club’s current shortage of senior center-backs after other recent transfers. Leoni joined Liverpool from Parma in the summer for £26 million and was seen as a rising star within the squad. His promising debut was overshadowed by this injury uncertainty, leaving Liverpool and fans anxiously awaiting definitive scan results to understand the full impact on his future availability.

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