Giovanni Leoni return for Liverpool delayed as Andoni Iraola explains injury concern

Liverpool defender Leoni's ACL recovery has been delayed; the injury involved more damage than initially thought, pushing his return to next month's international break.

Liverpool centre-back Giovanni Leoni's return from a serious knee injury has been pushed back further than expected. The 19-year-old, who suffered ACL damage plus additional knee damage during his debut in September 2025, was initially expected to resume full training during the recent international break. However, manager Andoni Iraola confirmed the recovery is more complicated than first assessed, with Leoni now not anticipated to rejoin the first-team squad until the next international break in approximately one month. Liverpool is taking a cautious approach to ensure he returns to full fitness.