Liverpool's Leoni faces year out after ACL injury on debut / Photo: Paul ELLIS - AFP
-
'I miss my home': Cambodians displaced by conflict start over
-
War-bruised Myanmar finds relief in bareknuckle bloodsport
-
Ailing Auger-Aliassime falls at US Open as Swiatek, Osaka and Gauff advance
-
Gauff downs Badosa to reach US Open third round
-
Tesla launches self-driving 'Cybercab' in Texas
-
New Zealand approves use of party drug MDMA to treat trauma
-
'Wallace & Gromit' creators turn 50 with spook-tacular Shaun yarn
-
Westerners test their mettle at World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan
-
New York's Muslims reclaim their city after 9/11 backlash
-
Gauff cruises into US Open third round
-
Premier League transfer windfall a lifeline for ailing French clubs
-
Kyrgios gets month ban for cocaine, enters treatment programme
-
Chile protesters see shades of Pinochet in new security plan
-
Colombian judge bans strikes on guerrillas if minors are present
-
Carreras reverts to fullback as Argentina change four for Australia Test
-
Khachanov shocks ailing Auger-Aliassime, Swiatek and Osaka advance at US Open
-
Wilson back to lead Australia as Kiss rotates team for Argentina
-
Lone juror blocking verdict in US mother's child murder trial: defense
-
Yen surges on new intervention talk, US stocks rally
-
'Kinda chic' - Williams sisters set to launch US Open doubles bid
-
Japan's Ueda fires Lille top of Ligue 1 on debut
-
Volkswagen says cutting 100,000 jobs by end of decade
-
Arsenal chief executive reveals 'dynasty' ambition
-
Russia slaps curfew on charity director over army criticism
-
Spanish PM says no 'solid proof' Morocco planned migrant rush
-
Ailing Auger-Aliassime upset by Khachanov at US Open
-
Iran war is not a war, US VP Vance says
-
Richarlison omitted from Tottenham's Premier League squad
-
Khachanov stuns third-seeded Auger-Aliassime in US Open second round
-
How El Nino is choking the Panama Canal
-
Bordeaux facing sixth-tier football after French federation upholds relegation
-
Hamilton drives his Ferrari dream at Monza
-
Stoic Verstappen looking beyond 'painful' Monza weekend
-
Senegal has an IMF loan, now what?
-
OpenAI begins rollout of new powerful AI model GPT-6 Astra
-
Auger-Aliassime upset by Khachanov at US Open
-
FIFA blasts UEFA 'smear campaign,' fights World Cup plan disclosures
-
Hugging Face, the French start-up that became AI's warehouse
-
Zelensky hopes to host US envoys in Kyiv in 'coming days'
-
World Cup winner Llorente retires from Spain team at 31
-
Martinelli joins Al-Hilal from Arsenal for reported £60 million
-
Osaka squeezes into US Open third round
-
Tesla's semi-autonomous driving could be adapted to EU norms: France
-
Apple faces £2 bn lawsuit in UK over app privacy feature
-
37 people die from fumes during oil pipeline theft in Nigeria: NGO
-
Former champ Swiatek eases into US Open third round
-
Ahead of elections, Israel tests West's patience on West Bank violence
-
DR Congo latest to promise moving Israel embassy to Jerusalem
-
Antonelli will obey Mercedes orders to help 'tow' teammate Russell
-
War criminal Mladic's body returns to Serbia with military honours
Liverpool's Leoni faces year out after ACL injury on debut
Liverpool manager Arne Slot said Friday that teenaged Italian defender Giovanni Leoni would be sidelined for up to a year after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury during his debut.
The 18-year-old, who joined the Premier League champions from Parma last month in a deal worth an initial £26 million ($35 million), was injured during the Reds' 2-1 League Cup win against Southampton on Tuesday.
"He's not in a good place, of course, because he tore his ACL, which means that he will be out for around a year," Slot said ahead of Saturday's trip to Crystal Palace.
"Being so young, coming to a new country, playing so well in your first game.
"He's still so young so he has so many years still to go after he recovers from a terrible injury like that."
The loss of Leoni leaves Slot with just three fit centre-backs -- captain Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez.
Liverpool wanted Palace captain Marc Guehi for extra cover in that position but the England international's move to Anfield on deadline day collapsed after the Eagles failed to sign a replacement.
Guehi has been key to extending Palace's club record run of 17 games without defeat in all competitions.
The only two unbeaten teams in the Premier League clash at Selhurst Park with Liverpool looking to extend their perfect start of five consecutive victories.
However, they have relied on a number of late winners and moments of good fortune.
"If you would have asked me that after playing Newcastle away, Arsenal at home, and all these difficult games we had, that we would have the maximum results? I would have probably told you 'no'," said Slot.
"If you look at the games, they were most of them quite close. So, we might have been a bit lucky as well to get the maximum points."
Hugo Ekitike's red card for taking his shirt off in celebration after scoring the winner against Southampton was branded as "stupid" by his manager.
The French striker will now be suspended for the Palace clash, but Alexander Isak is set to start his first Premier League game since becoming the most expensive player in the competition's history after a £125-million move from Newcastle.
R.Veloso--PC
