London, Sept 25 (HS): Liverpool’s young defender Giovanni Leoni endured a nightmare debut after suffering a suspected anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that could sideline him for the remainder of the season. The 18-year-old Italian centre-back picked up the injury during Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup third-round clash against Southampton, which Liverpool won 2-1.

Leoni, who had only joined Liverpool from Parma in August in a £26 million deal including add-ons, was forced off in the 81st minute after going down clutching his left knee. Initial medical assessments have indicated a serious ACL problem, leaving the club fearing a long absence for their highly rated summer signing.

Sharing an emotional note on social media, Leoni wrote: “I am grateful to everyone who has supported me during this tough moment. This was not the debut I had dreamed of, but I promise to work as hard as I can to return to this magical stadium as soon as possible.

”Liverpool manager Arne Slot acknowledged the blow, admitting the severity was apparent from the outset. “He realised instantly that it was a serious one. Often players’ emotions tell you a lot about the gravity of the situation,” Slot said after the match.

The injury creates a defensive dilemma for Liverpool, who are now left with just three senior centre-backs—Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, and Joe Gomez. Under UEFA rules, the club can still adjust their Champions League squad, and reports suggest Federico Chiesa is being considered for inclusion if reshuffles are required.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar