Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has made an important squad decision, following confirmation of Giovanni Leoni’s serious knee injury.
The Reds have been rocked by the news that Leoni has suffered ACL damage, having been stretchered off in the 2-1 win at home to Southampton in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening.
Speaking in his pre-Crystal Palace press conference on Friday morning, Arne Slot confirmed that the young Italian centre-back is expected to miss around a year of action:
“He is not in a good place, of course, because he tore his ACL and it means he will be out for a year. Being so young and coming to a new country and playing so well in your first game… it’s very hard to take the positive side. There’s never a positive side – but you always try to look at a positive side and that is that he is still so young, so he has so many years still to go after he recovers from a terrible injury like that.”
Leoni’s injury means that a space has opened up in Liverpool’s Champions League squad, and James Pearce has taken to X to say that Federico Chiesa has been called up, having been initially left out: “Slot confirms that Chiesa has been added to the Champions League squad.“
An opportunity for Chiesa in sad circumstances
Leoni’s injury is such a cruel blow for a special young player, and the hope is that he can make a full recovery and still reach his vast potential upon his return.
This does at least give Chiesa an unexpected opportunity to prove his worth in the Champions League, as he looks to kick on after a relatively forgettable first season as a Reds player.
The winger was arguably Liverpool’s best player in the win over Southampton, registering two assists, and he has already delivered a huge late goal at home to Bournemouth this season.
On current form, Chiesa arguably deserves to be given a chance over Cody Gakpo at Palace on Saturday, but even if the Dutchman does start, the 27-year-old should get a chance at some point in the second half.
