Liverpool are set to make use of a new UEFA regulation after teenage defender Giovanni Leoni suffered a devastating injury on his debut.
The 18-year-old center-back, who arrived from Parma in a £26m summer move, impressed in his first outing against Southampton on Tuesday (September 23) before disaster struck late on.
Leoni went down awkwardly following an innocent challenge and had to be stretchered off after receiving lengthy treatment.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot admitted post-match that the defender was not feeling too optimistic, and subsequent scans have since confirmed that Leoni has indeed suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear.
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The injury is expected to keep him sidelined for several months, ruling him out of the majority of the 2025-26 season.
UEFA recently updated the Champions League registration rules, allowing clubs to replace any player sidelined by a long-term injury of 60 days or more during the league phase, opening the door for Slot to make a necessary amendment to his squad.
Chiesa set for Champions League recall
Slot’s initial squad list raised many eyebrows when Federico Chiesa was excluded, with the Italian forward said to be frustrated by the decision but determined to prove himself in domestic competition.
UEFA’s restriction on non-homegrown players forced Liverpool to prioritize 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha over Chiesa, as the teenager does not yet qualify for a List B slot after joining from Chelsea in 2024.
Chiesa, who heroically netted the late winner against Bournemouth on the opening Premier League weekend, has responded in style to his omission, bagging a goal and two assists in five appearances so far this season.
He is now in line to be added back into Liverpool’s Champions League squad, with Fabrizio Romano confirming on Thursday (September 24) that the Reds are preparing to register him as Leoni’s replacement.
Speaking on his omission recently, Chiesa admitted he had been “sorry” to miss out on the original list but pledged to keep his head down and work for the team.
“[The coach] told me what he was thinking, why he chose to do what he did. I was sorry I am not part of the Champions League squad, as to play in it is every player’s dream,” Chiesa said,
“I just said to the coach: ‘OK – no problem. I will keep working hard and I will get my chances in the Carabao Cup and the Premier League.’ I am a professional player, I play for Liverpool and to do that is amazing.”
Liverpool will formally submit their revised list before their second Champions League group game against Galatasaray.
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