The Aporia · Andoni Iraola reveals new date for Giovanni Leoni return as Liverpool comeback delayed

Andoni Iraola reveals new date for Giovanni Leoni return as Liverpool comeback delayed

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Flood, G. (2026, October 15). Andoni Iraola reveals new date for Giovanni Leoni return as Liverpool comeback delayed. Evening Standard. https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/liverpool-fc-giovanni-leoni-injury-return-date-delayed-b1300987.html

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Quick Summary

Liverpool's Italian centre-back Giovanni Leoni will likely return to training with the team during the international break in November after suffering an ACL injury and other knee issues since his debut for Liverpool against Southampton in September 2025. The 19-year-old player, who joined the club from Parma for £26 million plus add-ons, was originally expected to start rehabilitating earlier but his recovery has been delayed by one month due to the complexity of his injury. Manager Andoni Iraola stressed the need for caution to prevent any further damage and ensure Leoni's long-term fitness.

Written by AI on 2026-10-15, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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Story summary

Giovanni Leoni, an Italian centre-back who joined Liverpool from Serie A club Parma for a transfer worth £26 million plus add-ons in September 2025, will miss more time due to his knee injury. The 19-year-old tore his anterior cruciate ligament during his debut under former manager Arne Slot in a Carabao Cup match against Southampton at Anfield. Initially expected to return after a recent international break, Leoni's comeback is now delayed until November, with Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola stating it will take "more time than we wanted."

Written for “Liverpool Comeback Delayed” on 2026-11-03, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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Who wrote this

George Flood

138 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 Carrick will be desperate to avoid a repeat on Tuesday night, with Roma’s visit and that of Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday preceding another review of his position from the club hierarchy that is expected to take place during the November international break.

2026-11-03 · assertive framing · Why isn't Manchester United vs Roma on TNT Sports tonight? Champions League TV schedule explained

🔮 The beleaguered Man Utd boss may now have only two games left to save his job, with a further review expected during the November international break, following Sunday’s home clash with Aston Villa in the Premier League.

2026-11-03 · assertive framing · Where to watch Manchester United vs Roma: TV channel and live stream for Champions League today

🔮 The plan would always have been that when the ball goes into Mac Allister, Odegaard it’s your job to get after him.

2026-11-02 · assertive framing · Jamie Carragher makes bold new Arsenal claim after Liverpool masterclass

🔮 His performances quickly caught the attention of Arsenal, who will add the Republic of Ireland Under-17 international to their academy ranks in the New Year.

2026-11-02 · assertive framing · Arsenal signing sends emotional farewell message before 'landmark' transfer

🔮 The under-fire Carrick will remain in charge for the visit of Roma despite a third successive defeat at the hands of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with Aston Villa also visiting Old Trafford before the next international break begins.

2026-11-02 · assertive framing · Manchester United handed huge boost in bid for crucial Roma win after new update

🔮 Alonso’s side will fancy their chances of making it back-to-back victories against a Sunderland outfit who sit rock bottom of the table after being brushed aside by newly-promoted Coventry last time out.

2026-11-02 · assertive framing · Chelsea injury update: Joao Pedro, Jordan Henderson, Emi Martinez latest news and return dates

🔮 But to do so they will need to end their hoodoo at this famous old ground, where they have remarkably not won in the league since 2012.

2026-11-01 · assertive framing · Liverpool vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League latest score, match stream, goal updates and fan reaction

🔮 Barcelona loanee Ronald Araujo, who played in central defence on Wednesday night, is set to resume his regular role at right-back in the absence of the injured Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley.

2026-11-01 · assertive framing · Liverpool XI vs Arsenal: Starting lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Premier League today

🔮 But to do so they will need to end their hoodoo at this famous old ground, where they have remarkably not won in the league since 2012.

2026-11-01 · mixed framing · Liverpool vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League match stream, latest team news, lineups, TV, prediction

🔮 Influential midfielder Szoboszlai limped off just over half an hour into his return from a hamstring issue suffered on international duty with Hungary that initially led to him missing two matches, while winger Munoz sustained a knee problem in the same fixture after scoring the equaliser against the Bees. Both players have sat out the last three games in a row against Villarreal, Brighton and Chelsea, though Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola admitted at his pre-match press conference on Friday that there was “a chance” they could each return against Arsenal.

2026-11-01 · assertive framing · Liverpool offered new hope over major double injury boost for Arsenal clash

Also by George Flood

Why isn't Manchester United vs Roma on TNT Sports tonight? Champions League TV schedule explained

2026-11-03 · Evening Standard

Where to watch Manchester United vs Roma: TV channel and live stream for Champions League today

2026-11-03 · Evening Standard

Jamie Carragher makes bold new Arsenal claim after Liverpool masterclass

2026-11-02 · Evening Standard

Arsenal signing sends emotional farewell message before 'landmark' transfer

2026-11-02 · Evening Standard

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 138 articles by George Flood →

Narrative

Claims (12 extracted, 0 hedged)

The Italian centre-back has not played since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while making his debut under former manager Arne Slot during a Carabao Cup third-round tie against Southampton at Anfield in September 2025. asserted

back → play → September

That blow came just weeks after Leoni had joined Liverpool from Serie A club Parma in a transfer worth £26million plus add-ons, with the 19-year-old undergoing surgery and expected to miss around a year of action. asserted

old → come → action

He has been stepping up his rehabilitation of late and was expected to return to Reds training during the recent extended three-week international break, to build match fitness and eventually boost Andoni Iraola’s defensive options. asserted

He → step → options

However, it did not happen, with Leoni now likely unable to take that significant step until the next international break arrives in November. asserted

break → happen → November

“It’s taking more time than we wanted,” Liverpool boss Iraola said of Leoni’s comeback when addressing the media ahead of Saturday’s trip to Brentford in the Premier League. asserted

Iraola → take → League

“The planning was to train with the team in this past international break [but] probably it’s going to be in the next international break, so we’ve lost one month in the process. asserted

we → train → process

“Giovanni’s injury, I wasn’t here but talking to the medical department, it was not just an ACL – it was a bad injury, a lot of things around the knee were involved apart from the ACL.” asserted

lot → talk → ACL

Iraola was keen to stress that Leoni had not experienced a setback as such, insisting that Liverpool had to exercise sufficient caution with his return after such a long layoff in a bid to avoid any damaging repeat. asserted

Liverpool → stress → repeat

“He has to be very confident, the rehab process has to be very careful with him and we want to make sure once he comes to the team, he stays there in a good place,” Iraola added. asserted

Iraola → have → place

“It’s true that we’ve had, not a setback, but a little bit of a delay, if you want. asserted

you → ’ → delay

“The plan now is he starts in the next break. asserted

he → start → break

It’s not that far but it’s a little bit later than we expected, yes.” asserted

we → ’ → ?

Andoni Iraola reveals new date for Giovanni Leoni return as Liverpool comeback delayed

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