It's 'months rather than weeks' as Reds' worst Leoni fears are realised

YOUNG DEFENDER SUFFERS SERIOUS KNEE INJURY

- By PAUL GORST Liverpool FC Correspondent

YOUNG DEFENDER SUFFERS SERIOUS KNEE INJURY

GIOVANNI Leoni is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious knee injury on his Liverpool debut on Tuesday night against Southampton.

The 18-year-old defender was making his first start since joining from Parma in a £26m deal in mid-August.

He had looked impressive on the night before he was forced off after 81 minutes. Leoni landed awkwardly near the Main Stand and was in visible agony before he was taken off on a stretcher and replaced by Milos Kerkez for the closing stages.

Liverpool are refusing to place a timescale on the length of the absence at present, with head coach Arne Slot due to update with the latest in his Friday morning press conference from the AXA Training Centre.

However, it’s understood club medical staff are fearful of a serious issue for the young Italian, who was making just his 18th senior appearance of his career on Tuesday evening.

The length of absence is expected to be a number of months rather than weeks and it's a devastating blow for a teenager who had played himself on to the cusp of the international scene following an Azzurri call-up earlier this month.