Liverpool's new signing Giovanni Leoni, who joined for £26 million from Parma and was recently called up to Italy's senior squad, suffered a serious ACL injury during a match against Southampton, which is expected to sideline him for approximately nine months.

Leoni's injury was confirmed by Fabrizio Romano via Twitter, and initial assessments indicated a torn ACL, with further medical tests scheduled to determine the full extent of the damage.

The injury occurred after a tangle with a Southampton player, and Leoni was replaced by Milos Kerkez amid a standing ovation from Liverpool fans, highlighting his potential and the disappointment of his premature debut.

Leoni was viewed as a potential long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk, with former Parma officials comparing him favorably to the Dutch captain, and his injury raises concerns about Liverpool's defensive depth.

Liverpool currently has only three senior centre-backs—van Dijk, Konate, and Gomez—and Wataru Endo has been filling in as a makeshift defender, which puts additional pressure on the squad.

The club is considering reinforcements, including Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano and other targets like Josko Gvardiol and Marco Verratti, to strengthen their squad for upcoming European and domestic fixtures.

Liverpool plans to assess their defensive needs during upcoming international breaks and is expected to accelerate transfer plans in the January window to address the injury crisis.

The club's transfer strategy was to bolster the defense with long-term recruits, but Leoni's injury leaves them more vulnerable and may require tactical adjustments.

In the meantime, Liverpool will need to carefully manage workload for key defenders like van Dijk and Konate, especially with international fixtures adding to their fatigue.

Liverpool's recent performances include a 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid, a 2-1 victory against Everton, and a 2-1 win in the Carabao Cup against Southampton, with Chiesa showing promising signs after slowly integrating into the team.

The injury not only impacts immediate squad depth but also strategic flexibility, as Liverpool aims to navigate fixture congestion and maintain their strong start to the season.

Leoni expressed gratitude for the support he received and vowed to return to play as soon as possible, despite the setback, with hopes for a swift recovery given his young age.