Expert Predicts How Long Liverpool Ace Will Be Out For

Liverpool boss Arne Slot was afforded a rare chance to make plenty of changes to his starting line-up as his side faced Southampton in the League Cup, which ended in a narrow 2-1 win. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the Merseysiders, however, as Giovanni Leoni – in his first minutes for the club – picked up a sore-looking injury in the 81st minute. An injury expert has given their post-match observation.

Alexander Isak bagged his first goal for the club, Shea Charles of Southampton offered Will Still’s Championship outfit a slither of hope with an equaliser in the 76th minute. Just shy of ten minutes later, Hugo Ekitike – who replaced Isak at the half-time interval – bagged the match-winner and was subsequently sent off for taking his shirt off.

Leoni, who signed from Italian club Parma in the summer of £26 million, was among the smattering of less-familiar faces that began Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Southampton on Tuesday evening. However, after the footage of his clash emerged post-match, there are concerns that he could miss a handful of upcoming games. That could be detrimental as the Reds look to compete on all fronts.

Watch the highlights from Liverpool 2-1 Southampton below:

Leoni’s Injury vs Southampton Analysed By Injury Expert

Replaced by Milos Kerkez with nine minutes left of regulation time, the 2006-born centre-back enjoyed an impressive start to his career at Anfield: he chalked up six clearances, three interceptions and one tackle as Saints piled on the pressure. Comfortable on the ball, too, the 18-year-old put in a composed display.

So much so that he earned rave reviews from journalist Adam Summerton, who knows the youngster well from his commentary on Italian football for TNT Sports. “I’ve just seen Leoni described as ‘The Italian Alan Hansen’. Incredibly early days but pleased to see him making a good first impression, super talented,” he wrote.

Also taking to social media was an injury analysis to determine how long Leoni, who was born and raised in Rome, could be sidelined for. On the lanky Italian, they wrote: “Giovanni Leoni had to come off with a knee injury in the second half of the Liverpool vs. Southampton clash. Extremely limited video makes this harder to judge, but I’d be worried that his knee falls into a valgus position in this screenshot.

“Non-contact nature, knee collapsing in and pivoting nature make me suspicious of an ACL injury,” they continued before adding: “However, this is harder to call due to the live broadcast not showing a clearer replay of it.

By virtue of the fact that on-site physios put the ex-Sampdoria and Padova defender – who is a seven-cap Italy U19 international – in the Lachmann’s test, it could spell bad news for those associated with Liverpool. “Physios seemed to have readied Leoni in a position to do a Lachmann’s test – the test for an ACL rupture. Scans will be needed to determine the extent of the injury,” they concluded.

Officially, how long Leoni – who played 17 times in Serie A last term – will face away from the action remains to be seen. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate will remain Slot’s two-man partnership in the heart of defence, while Joe Gomez will keep his spot at the front of the pecking order beyond the aforementioned pairing.

All statistics per FotMob and Sofa Score – correct as of 24/09/2025