Liverpool defeated Southampton 2-1 on Tuesday night in the Carabao Cup, securing their place in the fourth round. The match was full of twists and turns, featuring the dazzling debuts of new signings as well as an unexpected red card incident.
Isak Scores First Goal, Chiesa Named Man of the Match
Isak netted his first goal for Liverpool, while Chiesa contributed two assists and was voted Man of the Match. Substitute Hugo Ekitike scored the decisive goal in the second half, but chose to take off his shirt in celebration despite already being on a yellow card.
As a result, he was sent off with a red card. After the match, head coach Arne Slot strongly criticised the young striker’s reckless behaviour, emphasising that such actions were completely unnecessary.
18-Year-Old Talent Leoni Impresses on Debut
Several of Liverpool’s summer signings performed well in this match, but the most eye-catching was 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni.
The Italian midfielder, who joined from Parma this summer for €31 million, finally made his first-team debut and delivered an almost flawless performance that earned widespread praise from both fans and the media.
Throughout the match, Leoni completed 88 of his 91 passes with a passing accuracy of 97%. He also registered 102 touches, six clearances, three interceptions, and one tackle.
In addition, Leoni won all three of his aerial duels and one of his two ground duels, and he was never dribbled past. For an 18-year-old midfielder, such statistics are nothing short of outstanding.
Injury Casts a Shadow Over Anfield’s Joy
Unfortunately, a late incident overshadowed Liverpool’s victory. Leoni collided with an opponent and fell heavily to the ground in agony, bursting into tears as he clutched his left leg. He was eventually stretchered off the pitch, leaving fans and teammates deeply concerned.
After the game, Slot told club media, “He is distraught right now because he immediately felt something wasn’t right. Usually, in cases like this, you don’t get a clear result within 5 to 10 minutes. We’ll have to wait until tomorrow and likely conduct an MRI scan to determine the severity of the injury. Hopefully, it won’t be too serious.”
Expert Analysis: Possible Cruciate Ligament Damage
Following the match, injury analyst Physio Scout reviewed the footage and suggested that Leoni may have suffered cruciate ligament damage. If confirmed, he could face a lengthy layoff of up to nine months.
On-site medical staff reportedly performed the Lachman test, a standard procedure used to diagnose tears of the anterior cruciate ligament. However, the final diagnosis will still require confirmation through imaging.
At present, Liverpool’s defensive situation looks precarious, with only Van Dijk, Konaté, and Joe Gomez available as recognised centre-backs. If Leoni’s injury is indeed serious, it will pose an even greater challenge for Slot’s tactical planning in the months ahead.
