Liverpool defender Giovanni Leoni out for rest of season with ACL injury

<ul><li><p>Centre-back excelled on debut against Southampton</p></li><li><p>Arne Slot predicts Leoni will be out for ‘around a year’</p></li></ul><p>Arne Slot has confirmed Giovanni Leoni will miss the rest of the season after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament on his Liverpool debut.</p><p>The 18-year-old central defender, signed from Parma last month for £26m, sustained the injury towards the end of an <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/sep/23/liverpool-southampton-carabao-cup-match-report">assured performance against Southampton</a> in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday and immediate concerns over a lengthy layoff have been realised. Leoni, recently called up to the Italy squad for the first time, faces surgery and an extensive rehabilitation period.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/sep/26/liverpools-giovanni-leoni-out-for-the-season-with-acl-injury">Continue reading...</a>