Liverpool have been hit by a bitter blow ahead of facing Crystal Palace on Saturday, while the Reds may have found an alternative to Marc Guehi on the transfer front
Chris Burns Senior Sports Writer
03:30, 27 Sep 2025
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has been hit with an injury to Giovanni Leoni(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has been rocked by the news that Giovanni Leoni is expected to be out of action for a year. The 18-year-old Italian sustained an ACL injury during Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup victory over Southampton.
Slot confirmed that the injury is to the former Parma player’s anterior cruciate ligament, meaning he will be sidelined for the foreseeable future. The setback is certainly a blot on Liverpool’s season so far, which has seen them win all five of their Premier League matches, putting them five points clear at the top of the table.
Liverpool now face a difficult match against Crystal Palace on Saturday, with the Eagles also yet to lose this season. However, Leoni’s injury highlights Liverpool’s need for defensive reinforcements.
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The Reds may have found an alternative to long-term transfer target, Palace captain Marc Guehi, in the form of Bayern Munich star Dayot Upamecano as they look to address their centre-back worries. Here, we take a look at how Slot’s squad is preparing for the clash with Palace.
Light on depth for Crystal Palace clash
Leoni put in a strong performance on Tuesday before his injury, making the devastating news even harder for Slot to take. Naturally, Leoni will not be available for selection against Palace.
Speaking about his injury, Slot said: “There is never a positive side but you try to look at that and that is that he is still so young and he has so many years still go to after he recovers from a terrible injury.”
Giovanni Leoni receives medical treatment before being substituted off during the Carabao Cup match between Liverpool and Southampton at Anfield(Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Besides being without Leoni, Liverpool will also head to Selhurst Park minus Hugo Ekitike, who received his marching orders in strange circumstances at Anfield on Tuesday. There appeared to be uncertainty over which fixture the French striker would sit out, with some supporters believing he would be absent for the club’s upcoming Carabao Cup clash, also against Palace.
Nevertheless, Ekitike will be unavailable for the Premier League encounter through suspension, meaning new arrival Alexander Isak, who netted his maiden goal for the club in midweek against the Saints, could be set to make his first start for Liverpool. That leaves Slot light on options at both the back and up front.
Meanwhile, Palace are also confronting their own mounting crisis. Although Ismaila Sarr and Yeremy Pino are expected to be passed fit, Chadi Riad, Cheick Doucoure, Caleb Kporha and Walter Benitez are all potentially unavailable on Saturday.
Reds find Marc Geuhi alternative
With Leoni sidelined for such an extended period, Slot already finds himself dependent on the fitness of Ibrahima Konate, who is in the final year of his deal at Liverpool, and Joe Gomez when it comes to partnering Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the Reds’ defence.
Whilst the pair’s quality is beyond question, their fitness record is concerning. The unsuccessful chase for Marc Guehi on transfer deadline day already appears to be coming back to haunt Liverpool.
Dayot Upamecano is a reported target for Liverpool(Image: Roland Krivec/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
The Reds are reportedly still interested in Guehi, however, the defender is free to speak to clubs on the continent soon, with Real Madrid said to be keen. The reported interest from Real has now spurred Liverpool into action, with Slot’s side rumoured to have shifted their focus to Upamecano, as per Bild.
Upamecano, who once partnered Konate at RB Leipzig, is also embroiled in a contract saga of his own. However, it’s reported that Bayern would be keen to renew his deal.
They splashed out £36million for him in 2021 and he has since won three Bundesliga titles with the Bavarian giants. Real are also said to be eyeing Konate, complicating Liverpool’s ongoing centre-back pursuit, meaning a deal for Guehi or Upamecano could be fast-tracked.