Liverpool suffer crushing injury blow in Premier League title race as Arsenal watch on

Arne Slot has confirmed that Liverpool defender, Giovanni Leoni has sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury that will sideline him for a year, dealing a significant blow to the teenager. The 18-year-old Italian centre-back suffered the injury during his debut for the club in Tuesday's 2-1 Carabao Cup third-round victory over Southampton.

Leoni, who was on the pitch for 81 minutes before being forced off, underwent knee tests this week which revealed the ACL injury. On Friday, Slot stated: "He is not in a good place because he tore his ACL which means he will be out around a year."

The young defender joined Liverpool from Parma for £26million in the summer and signed a six-year contract at Anfield.

Slot said: "Being so young and coming to a new country and playing so well in your first game, it's very hard to take the positives."

"There is never a positive side but you try to look at that and that is that he is still so young and he has so many years still go to after he recovers from a terrible injury."

This injury leaves Slot with just three recognised centre-backs - captain Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez - for Saturday's match against Crystal Palace. However, Slot reassured: "I have enough options to replace a player in the centre-back position. Virgil, Ibou and Joe."

Liverpool head the weekend clash at Selhurst Park with a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League. Arsenal and Tottenham are joint second with 10 points each.

Arsenal take on Newcastle United at St James' Park on Sunday while Spurs host Wolves on Saturday night. Chelsea take on Brighton and Manchester City face Burnley.

Liverpool made an attempt to sign centre-back Marc Guehi from Palace during the transfer window. However, the deal fell through at the last minute on deadline day when Palace decided to withdraw as they were unable to secure a replacement.

"I don't think one day before we play Palace [is a good time] to talk about Guehi again, he is a Palace player and very important for them," Slot added.

"We prepare for Palace, [who have] not lost for 17 games in a row. [They are] a difficult team to beat but so are we, we beat them 1-0 and twice it was a draw."

Liverpool may look to fast-track their plans to return for Guehi in light of Leoni's injury blow, but Real Madrid are also known to be keen on the England international who is out of contract next summer.

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