Liverpool’s backline has been absolutely ravaged by injuries, which in many ways have disrupted their preparations for the new Premier League season.
At the moment, Virgil van Dijk is the only guaranteed central defensive starter for the Reds’ first game of the season vs Newcastle United.
Andoni Iraola confirmed that Joe Gomez will be out for a few weeks after his muscle injury in pre-season, while Liverpool are taking the cautious approach with Jeremy Jacquet after his big-money move to Anfield.
And now, ahead of the new Premier League season, The Athletic have provided an injury update that will come as music to the ears of the Liverpool faithful.
Giovanni Leoni close to Liverpool return
Giovanni Leoni suffered a cruel injury blow on his Liverpool debut last season and has been out with an ACL injury since.
The Italian defender showed his class with an assured display and was the Reds’ best player on the pitch until he went down near the touchline with a problem.
Leoni hasn’t featured in pre-season so far and will not be available for the next few weeks.
However, Gregg Evans reports that he will return to team training in late August and will be available for selection from September.
Earlier this week, Sky Sports confirmed that Liverpool will not sign a defender this summer. And needless to say, the Anfield faithful weren’t best pleased with those claims as the Reds are currently reduced to their bare bones at the back.
However, with Jacquet now fully fit, Gomez weeks away rather than months, and Leoni also edging closer to his comeback, maybe it’s not all doom and gloom.
