Leoni suffers ACL tear; Liverpool expect year-long absence as Chiesa returns under new Champions League rule

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said Giovanni Leoni tore his ACL and will be out for around a year after a red-hot start to his career was halted by a stretcher at Anfield this week. Leoni, 18, arrived this summer for £26 million from Parma and left the field 81 minutes into his first-team debut in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday. Slot described the debut as a strong performance but confirmed the worst when he spoke to reporters on Friday: “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.”

He added that the injury schedule will test not only Leoni’s resolve but also the club’s medical and rehabilitation teams, noting that surgeons and rehab specialists are central to guiding the recovery. Slot stressed that the players around Leoni will provide support as he begins the long return process, and he expressed confidence in the group’s ability to help him come back stronger. “Our players have shown plenty of compassion for him and they will not stop.”

The injury has also triggered a notable roster move for Liverpool in Europe. UEFA recently announced a rule change allowing clubs to name a temporary replacement if an outfield player suffers a long-term injury or illness, and Liverpool used the loophole to register Federico Chiesa, 27, for the Champions League squad. Chiesa, a fan favorite and cult figure among the club’s supporters, had been left out of Liverpool’s early European squad for the season but is now eligible to participate in the competition as part of the temporary-replacement provision.

Slot described the decision as pragmatic and echoed optimism about how the squad can adapt. He noted that there are precedents for players returning from serious injuries stronger than before, citing examples in the sport, including Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, and said the club would lean on those experiences as Leoni begins recovery. “We have some examples with Virgil (van Dijk) and Joe (Gomez) and a lot example all over the world (of players returning better than before),” Slot said, before emphasizing that the process requires patience and consistent effort from everyone involved, from medical staff to teammates. “The surgeons and the rehab people are important but it's nice if you can do this with players around who have lived through this and they can give the right energy in the right moments.”

The ACL injury compounds what had been a promising start to Leoni’s career in Liverpool’s shirt. The 18-year-old signed amid high expectations and had impressed in training and in his first appearance, with Slot previously labeling the display as “great” before the diagnosis altered the narrative around his future. While the club navigates life without him for the coming months, Chiesa’s return to the European fold offers a path to maintain competitiveness in the Champions League during the injury spell. Liverpool have not announced any further additions, but the immediate focus will be on how the squad maintains performance levels and supports Leoni through a demanding rehabilitation.

As Liverpool look to balance development and results, Slot closed by reaffirming a message of resilience. He said the club will honor Leoni’s progress, keep faith with the medical team’s plan, and continue to support the teenager as he works toward reclaiming his place on the field. The club is expected to provide further updates as Leoni’s rehabilitation progresses, and more information about Chiesa’s involvement in upcoming fixtures will follow in the days ahead.