Former Liverpool loanee plays first game in 502 days

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Former Liverpool loanee Ozan Kabak played his first game in 502 days after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with an ACL injury. In 2022, Kabak was sold to Hoffenheim and established himself as a regular until he tore his ACL during a friendly against Italy while playing for Turkiye in the summer of 2024.

It marked the end of a 502-day wait for Kabak, who described his turbulent journey back to competitive action on social media after the match. He penned: “502 days later… “It’s hard to put into words what’s happened during this time.

“To my family, doctors, club, and friends, thank you for standing by me when it mattered most and for your constant encouragement.” Kabak had to wait 16 months for his next competitive match after tearing his ACL in a nod to how the return timelines for players with the same injury is not the same. Liverpool will hope young centre-back Giovanni Leoni avoids the same extended time on the sidelines after his ACL tear last month, with the typical recovery time in the region of nine months.