Arne Slot delivers bleak update on Giovanni Leoni after Liverpool summer signing stretchered off on debut with horror injury

Leoni appeared for Liverpool for the first time since joining them from Parma in a deal worth €35 million (£30m/$41m) during the summer transfer window. Slot decided to rest the regular centre-back pair of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, as Leoni started alongside Joe Gomez. Unfortunately, his debut game against Southampton ended in agony as he was forced off the pitch on a stretcher following an awkward landing after a challenge on the touchline.

The Liverpool boss provided a bleak update on the defender's condition after the game, telling reporters: "Of course, he is down because for him it didn’t feel good immediately, but this is something now we have to assess. Normally, these things don’t happen in five to 10 minutes and you have to wait for tomorrow to see how he comes in and then maybe do an MRI scan to know more about how serious it is.

"Normally, the emotions of a player tell you a lot. I saw during the weekend a player in the Dutch Eredivisie who went out completely in tears - Ruben van Bommel, by the way, of PSV - and a day later it proved to be that it was right. Let’s hope for the best."

Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike were on target as the Reds clinched a narrow 2-1 win over Championship side Southampton to progress in the Carabao Cup. Ekitike came off the bench in the second half to score the late winner, but he picked up a second yellow card for celebrating the goal by removing his shirt. 

Liverpool will be back in action in the Premier League this Saturday as they take on in-form Crystal Palace, but Ekitike will be suspended for the trip to Selhurst Park, with fellow summer signing Isak in line to start in his place.