On switch deadline day, Liverpool’s bid for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi fell via.
The Reds and their sporting director Richard Hughes had finished all that they may, however Arne Slot was steadfast in his confidence in his pre-existing defensive choices.
Nonetheless, that was earlier than Giovanni Leoni was pressured off towards Southampton, on his Reds debut, having ruptured his ACL. Now he’ll spend the vast majority of the season recovering.
How Liverpool will change Leoni
Liverpool signed Leoni from Parma in Serie A for an preliminary £26m price in August. The 18-year-old had scarcely been on the senior stage in his homeland, however he had proven sufficient promise for a swarm of suitors to buzz overhead, and it was Liverpool who had been victorious in claiming their quarry.
Leoni has been creating throughout the Anfield ranks over the previous month, piecing collectively his skillset and position and on-field persona in Slot’s system.
For the younger Italian to have been withdrawn in such seen agony and dismay on his first look for the Merseysiders was unhappy to see. He had impressed towards Southampton, having performed many of the match and seemed a lower above his associate Joe Gomez, who has performed little soccer just lately and who will now be anticipated to boost his recreation as he covers Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.
Giovanni Leoni’s Liverpool Debut | |
|---|---|
Stats* | # |
Minutes performed | 81′ |
Touches | 102 |
Correct passes | 88/91 (97%) |
Possession misplaced | 3x |
Tackles | 1 |
Interceptions | 3 |
Clearances | 6 |
Floor duels gained | 1/2 |
Aerial duels gained | 3/3 |
Knowledge by way of Sofascore | |
Liverpool’s choices on the again are all of the sudden sparse, and Slot might have to show towards the academy to plug a possible hole, handing Amara Nallo extra accountability.
Nallo might be the Leoni substitute
Nallo, 18, is true at the beginning of his Liverpool profession, and already he has made his senior debut underneath Slot’s wing.
Nonetheless, that one ended considerably unceremoniously, with {the teenager} despatched off throughout Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Girona within the Champions League in January 2025.
Slot stated Nallo “will be taught” from his mistake, however there is no query that it marks a blemish on an in any other case spectacular spotlight reel at this beginning stage of his profession.
Certainly, Nallo had beforehand been hailed by West Ham coach Carlton Cole as being a “Rolls-Royce of a centre-back”, bodily, commanding and calm on the ball. These traits are inherent, they usually might be guided towards one thing worthy of a daily position in Slot’s squad, given time.
Time, on this occasion, is not on Nallo’s time; or somewhat, the younger defender should now put together for a possible hike in significance, with rotation restricted after Leoni’s harm.
Nallo’s two-footedness suggests he might be the proper substitute, in equity, in a position to change Van Dijk when want be or function from the correct aspect.
Poached from West Ham United as a youth, Nallo has already racked up 52 appearances for Liverpool’s improvement sides – on high of that senior bow – and he might now be able to make the leap and have usually within the place the place Leoni was set to face.
In any case, Slot has already handed the teen his skilled debut, and entrusting him with alternatives this season is hardly out of the query.
