Liverpool

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Liverpool manager Arne Slot was asked if Alexander Isak is ready to start: "He is able to make minutes again but playing 90 depends on the pace and the intensity of the game. It might be a bit too much, not only for that but also for the long-term.

"You can give a player maybe one stupid hit to bring him to 90 but I don't think it is smart to play him 90 yet.

"He is further into his pre-season now and normally after two or three weeks in a pre-season, players go to 60-70 minutes. Some clubs bring them to 90 but if you look at our pre-season, we mainly bring them to 60 or 70."

Liverpool

OK, the Giovanni Leoni news was literally the first thing Arne Slot said.

He also suggested that the injury means Federico Chiesa will now be added to the Champions League squad.

Let's get back to the Liverpool boss's news conference and we've also got more from Fabian Hurzeler and Eddie Howe to bring you, too.

Only time will tell, Sonny, but for Giovanni Leoni's sake, you've got to hope he is able to get back to the level he was at before this injury.

The good news for him is that, unlike in years gone by, there are plenty of examples of players suffering ACL injuries and returning to reach the same or even higher levels.

He only has to look at a couple of his Liverpool team-mates. Florian Wirtz was also 18 when he suffered an ACL injury and he came back to help Bayer Leverkusen win the Bundesliga title in an unbeaten season.

Then there is Virgil van Dijk. He was out for close to a year with an ACL injury suffered in 2021 but returned and was imperious in leading the Reds to the Premier League title last season - he's still playing as well as ever now.

Daniele Verri, Italian football journalist

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Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside after Giovanni Leoni's signing for Liverpool, Italian football journalist Daniele Verri sung the praises of the defender: "Leoni is very strong in the air and he's a technically gifted player as well.

"He can come out from defence and start building from the back, but he's obviously at his most impactful in the air.

"A couple of big clubs in Italy, including AC Milan and Inter Milan, were also after him, so I didn't expect a bold move from a Premier League club so early, to be honest. But Liverpool put the money on the table - probably even a bit more than Parma were originally asking for.

"Who wouldn't fancy playing at Anfield? I think any player would be happy to join Liverpool - and, of course, the Premier League, which is the most entertaining and attractive league in the world right now.

"I would have loved to see Giovanni join a big Italian club before moving abroad. But that's football - the market is open. If a club like Liverpool comes in with 30m euros plus bonuses, it's difficult to turn down such an offer."

"It will be difficult for him to start regularly - he knows that - but I don't think that's a major problem at his age," Verri added.

"Having the opportunity to be part of such a strong squad and play alongside great players, especially someone like Van Dijk, is a huge opportunity."

Giovanni Leoni had made his senior professional bow for Padova in March 2023, with that milestone coming just three months after his 16th birthday.

He spent the second half of the 2023-24 campaign on loan at Sampdoria in Serie B – featuring a dozen times and scoring once before signing for Parma permanently last summer.

The teenager has also represented Italy at youth international level, making seven appearances for his country’s U19s to date, and was called up to the senior squad for the first time earlier this month.

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Before the confirmation of Giovanni Leoni's ACL injury, we looked at the options available to Liverpool at centre-half.

Aside from the first choice pairing of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, the Reds only have Joe Gomez as a true senior option to step in.

Rhys Williams, who spent last season on loan at League Two side Morecambe is the only other "natural" centre-back on the books.

Andy Robertson and Wataru Endo have both filled in at centre-back on the odd occasion while star midfielder Ryan Gravenberch could also drop back if needs must.

Sophie Brown
BBC Sport

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Giovanni Leoni only made his senior debut in 2023, playing in the Italian third tier for Padova as a 16-year-old, but just two years later he has joined the Premier League champions.

Liverpool were looking for reinforcements in central defence after selling Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer and Leoni came in to provide extra cover in an area where the Reds were potentially light.

With Virgil Van Dijk now 34, Liverpool need to have an eye on the future. Eighteen-year-old Leoni certainly ticks that box but also looked ready for the now, despite only establishing himself in Parma's starting line-up in the second half of last season.

With just 14 top-flight starts under his belt, he has not played as much as fellow highly rated teenage centre-backs Pau Cubarsi at Barcelona, Mamadou Sarr at Strasbourg or Real Madrid's Dean Huijsen, but his stats are impressive.

At 6ft 5in (1.96m) he is exceptional in the air, ranking in the top 10% for aerial duels won in Serie A last season.

At Parma, Leoni played in the middle of the back three or as the right centre-back and, as well as his aerial strength, he is also composed in possession, especially given his lack of experience.

The opportunity to develop his game with the Premier League champions and learn from Van Dijk, who he has previously called his inspiration, helped clinch the move.

He had to be patient before being given a chance against Southampton but looked every bit the exciting prospect that Liverpool fans were promised before his terrible injury cut his debut short.

A cruel blow but the Reds will hope the £26m signing can return next year and go about fulfilling his immense potential.

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Arne Slot on Giovanni Leoni: "He is not in a good place because he tore his ACL which means he will be out around a year.

"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."

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Arne Slot is here and confirms that centre-back Giovanni Leoni has torn his ACL and will be out for "around a year".

A huge blow for the 18-year-old, who had looked so good on his debut against Southampton.

Newcastle United

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe on Jacob Ramsey: "His recovery is going well and he is on the grass working hard and building his fitness back up.

"The plan was that he would [be back] for the first game after the international break ahead of us and if it is any earlier than that then of course he is ahead of schedule."

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler on what he's made of Joao Pedro's start at Chelsea: "Joao was a special player for us and it’s not easy to replace him one-to-one but we did it as team and we did it quite well.

"There's always a process, new players have to step in, new young players with big potential have to step in. They have to prove themselves every weekend that they are ready for that but they need time.

"Second thing, of course, Joao is a special player. He proved it already at Chelsea in the first [few] games. He played well. He scored goals. He's very good in position. He is a game changer for them. We have to defend as a team, as a unit. I'm sure we are capable of doing that."

Newcastle United

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe on Jacob Murphy: "He is doing OK and it is an issue that we are managing. With Achilles tendon problems they are ongoing and players manage them.

"He is in the place where he is fit and available but we are just trying to manage his load."

Newcastle United

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe says they have "a couple of players to check" ahead of the game on Sunday.

He added that there are "no major injuries" from the game against Bradford.

Newcastle United

We can hear from Newcastle boss Eddie Howe now as well...

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler on if it will help his team if Cole Palmer is unavailable for tomorrow's match against Chelsea: "First of all we can’t influence if he’s playing or not. It's important to focus on our game and focus on how we want to play.

"If he’s starting, he’s a game changer for them [Chelsea]. He is one of the best Premier League players. He’s got a special left foot. He can decide a game in one action.

"It’s about defending as team, as a unit, but it’s not about only defending, it’s also about playing our style of play. If you go there trying only to defend you won’t have a chance."

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Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner speaking after Marc Guehi's failed move to Liverpool: "It is credit to Marc that he never threatened to strike. He is a very honest person. That is why I was never worried about this situation.

"He will be our captain as long as he's here, because he's just such a great player and such a great personality.

"Everybody could see how he played for England, that he's 100% focused, the same here. It was written [in the media], that he steps back as our captain. Nothing true."

England boss Thomas Tuchel also had his say on the situation during the international break, stating that the 25-year-old handled the situation really well: "He looks absolutely fine and impressive on the field. He has had a good couple of weeks behind him on the performance side.

"He has continued like that in camp and he handles it [his transfer situation] with respect and with a brilliant attitude."

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Things wouldn't have looked as bleak for Liverpool right now had they got the deadline day signing of a certain Marc Guehi over the line...

The centre-back was all set for a move to the Premier League champions and had completed his medical in full before Palace pulled the plug at the final hour.

Saturday will be the first meeting between the two sides since the transfer saga unfolded.