Liverpool confirm devastating Giovanni Leoni injury in Arne Slot update

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Search Giovanni Leoni was stretchered off in the first half of Liverpool's Carabao Cup win over Southampton.

Giovanni Leoni receives medical treatment before being substituted off during the Carabao Cup match between Liverpool and Southampton at Anfield (Image: Getty Images)

Arne Slot has confirmed that Giovanni Leoni will be sidelined for a year after the defender was carried off on a stretcher during Liverpool's Carabao Cup victory over Southampton.

Slot has now disclosed that Leoni, who was making his debut since arriving from Parma in a £26million transfer, will be absent for a considerable period.

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The Dutchman described it as a 'terrible' injury.

Slot said: "Leoni tore his ACL, so he will be out for around a year.

New club, new country, playing so well in your first game, there are no positives, but he is still so young but he has so many years left to come after such a terrible injury."

Following his injury setback, Leoni expressed gratitude to supporters for their backing earlier this week.

"I want to sincerely thank every single person who has shown me support in this difficult moment," Leoni wrote on Instagram.

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Giovanni Leoni has been ruled out for months (Image: Getty Images)

"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!"

The setback leaves Slot with merely three centre-back choices: Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez.

Ahead of this weekend's clash with Crystal Palace, the Dutch boss refused to discuss Marc Guehi, whom Liverpool failed to secure on transfer deadline day.

"I don't think one day before we play Palace to talk about Guehi again, he is a Palace player and very important for them," he said.