Liverpool’s Carabao Cup win over Southampton came at a cost as 18-year-old centre-back Giovanni Leoni was stretchered off on his debut, leaving Arne Slot facing an immediate selection headache. The summer signing from Parma (reported £26m) went down near the touchline in the second half, minutes before Hugo Ekitike struck the late winner—and then saw red for removing his shirt.
Post-match, Slot urged caution: “It didn’t feel good immediately… we have to assess. You wait for tomorrow, then maybe do an MRI to see how serious it is.” With Crystal Palace up next in the Premier League and fixtures piling up across three fronts, Liverpool’s centre-back depth is under strain.
Beyond first-choice pairing Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, options are thin. Joe Gomez can step in, but injuries have disrupted his rhythm in recent seasons, and Van Dijk has just turned 34. Full-backs Conor Bradley and Andy Robertson could cover in an emergency, yet none are natural central defenders. Any setback for the senior trio would force improvisation at the back at a critical stage of the campaign.
The situation could nudge Liverpool back to the negotiating table for Marc Guehi. A deadline-day move for the Crystal Palace captain reportedly collapsed late on, but with Guehi into the final year of his deal, a January transfer could prove more attainable and better value than the £35m figure touted weeks ago. Liverpool may face competition—Real Madrid have also been linked—so swift clarity on Leoni’s prognosis will likely shape the club’s stance.
For now, Slot must juggle minutes and manage risk: keep Konaté and Van Dijk fresh, lean on Gomez, and pray for clean bills of health through the upcoming international breaks. Leoni’s assessment will determine whether Liverpool gamble on internal solutions—or push for defensive reinforcements when the window opens.
