Latest Leoni injury update ahead of Liverpool vs. Tottenham clash
Quick summary
An injury update on Giovanni Leoni has been provided ahead of Liverpool's Premier League match against Tottenham.
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Attributed to original sourceGiovanni Leoni is closing in on a return to action after a long-term injury lay-off, but the latest updates from Andoni Iraola confirm that he is not expected to feature in either of Liverpool’s next two matches before the international break.
Where Leoni stands in year-long injury recover Leoni joined Liverpool from Parma in a deal worth €35m plus bonuses last summer, but in a cruel twist of fate, the teenager’s 2025-26 season was ended on his first appearance after tearing his cruciate ligament (ACL) 81 minutes into an EFL Cup third round match against Southampton .
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 23: Giovanni Leeoni of Liverpool receives medical treatment to an injury before being substituted off during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Southampton at Anfield on September 23, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) It was originally expected that Leoni would miss around nine months of action as a result of his injury, but the rehabilitation period has taken even longer, as he has not yet returned to action almost exactly a year after the injury occurred.
New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has recently confirmed that Leoni is expected to return to training with the Liverpool first-team during the upcoming September-October international break.
“I think the next one [to return after Joe Gomez] probably should be Giovanni Leoni,” Iraola confirmed during a press conference on September 3.
“I think the plan is also to start training during the break, with the group. I think even Fede [Chiesa] should be around those dates.”
Giovanni Leoni signs his Liverpool contract (liverpoolfc.com) Iraola provided a further update during his pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool’s match against Tottenham in the third round of the EFL Cup, the same stage of the competition when Leoni suffered his injury last season.
The question was originally asked about full-back Conor Bradley, to which Iraola responded: “I think he is not close to training with the team. He’s training alone but he has started touching the ball. Definitely I want him as quick as possible ready but it’s a long-term injury.”
He then added: “I think Giovanni Leoni is a little bit ahead of him and still it’s going to take some time for Conor, yes.”
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What happened
Giovanni Leoni, the young Italian defender, is the subject of a fresh injury update ahead of Liverpool's Premier League encounter with Tottenham. The report from Football Italia tracks his fitness status, which is relevant given the intense fixture schedule. Leoni, who joined Liverpool from Parma in the summer transfer window, has been managing a significant injury setback. His availability remains a key question for Liverpool's defensive depth heading into the match.
Chance analysis
Giovanni Leoni's ongoing recovery remains a storyline worth tracking for Liverpool supporters, who signed the highly rated young Italian centre-back as a long-term investment. His absence — whether temporary or extended — shapes how Slot can rotate his back line against a dangerous Tottenham attack. For Tottenham, the opposition's defensive personnel is relevant context as they plan their approach. Young defenders returning from serious knee injuries often require careful reintegration, making this a situation to monitor rather than rush.
Leoni's continued absence limits Liverpool's central defensive options, particularly affecting squad rotation and long-term planning rather than the immediate Tottenham fixture.