Leoni: Will give my all to return for Liverpool ASAP
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Liverpool's 18-year-old summer signing, Giovanni Leoni, has suffered a serious knee injury—specifically a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)—during his debut against Southampton in the 2025 Carabao Cup. The injury occurred after a late tackle, which left Leoni in significant pain, eventually requiring a stretcher to leave the pitch despite initial thoughts that the issue might have been related to a head impact he sustained upon falling.
Leoni, acquired from Parma for a reported £30 million (around $40.7 million including add-ons), had a promising debut, completing 97% of his 91 passes and delivering a "great" performance as described by Liverpool manager Arne Slot. However, the ACL tear has put his return this season in serious doubt, as such injuries typically require six to nine months of recovery, with some players needing over a year to return to full fitness.
Following scans expected after the match, Liverpool confirmed the severity of the injury, which is expected to sideline Leoni for the majority, if not the entirety, of the 2025–26 campaign. The injury represents a significant setback for the young defender, who was highly rated for his defensive capabilities and potential. Liverpool fans and the team face a challenging period, having lost a key defensive reinforcement just as the season begins.
Leoni's injury also impacts Liverpool's defensive options, with manager Arne Slot likely to adjust tactics and personnel in the center-back positions. Before this injury, Leoni was brought in to bolster Liverpool’s defense alongside players like Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, and Joe Gomez, the latter of whom recently returned to training after an Achilles problem.
This setback has created concern among supporters and analysts about Liverpool’s defensive depth for the season, given Leoni’s expected long absence following the ACL tear sustained in what was a promising start to his Liverpool career.
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