Giovanni Leoni 'out for a year', Isak might make EPL debut for Liverpool this weekend, states Arne Slot

Despite not dropping a single point in the season so far, Liverpool have been burdened with the headache of injuries and the list keeps getting longer. Striker Alexander Isak is yet to be match fit and now their fresh recruit Giovanni Leoni joins the queue ahead of their weekend clash.

Liverpool roped in promising youngster Giovanni Leoni to solidify their defense, for a reported fee of of £26 million on a deal until June 2031. The Italian made his debut for the Scousers in their Carabao Cup third round 2-1 win over Southampton, during midweek. Unfortunately, during the same, he suffered an ACL injury and is likely to miss the rest of the season.

“He's not in a good place, of course, because he tore his ACL, which means that he will be out for around a year. Being so young, coming to a new country, playing so well in your first game, it's very hard to take the positive side,” said Arne Slot, during the pre-match press conference, ahead of the Crystal Palace game.

“No, there's never a positive side, but, you always try to look at a positive side, and that is he's still so young, he has so many years still to go after he recovers from from a terrible injury like that,” added the manager.

The defending champions’ attacking trio had a setback after the demise of former player Diogo Jota and they also parted ways with Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz. As part of reinforcement, the Reds have roped in the likes of Alexander Isak from Newcastle United, Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt and Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen.

Isak did appear in their Champions League win over Atletico Madrid, but was subbed off around the hour-mark. The Swedish footballer is yet to make his Premier League debut for his new side. Slot hinted at fielding him at Selhurst Park, but rules out on giving him 90 minutes at the moment.

“I still feel 90 (minutes of play) depends also on the pace and the intensity of the game but that might be a bit too much. You can't give a player (90 minutes) maybe, I would call stupid to bring him to 90 and then his body is completely over the line."

"But, he's further into his preseason now. And normally after two or three weeks in pre-season, players go to 60 to 70 minutes. And in some clubs, they even bring them to 90,” stated the EPL-winning manager," quipped the Dutchman.

Liverpool and Crystal Palace are the only two unbeaten teams in the Premier League this season. Meanwhile, the Reds have lost to their latter in the Community Shield last month, and will also be hosting them in the fourth round of Carabao Cup, later this season. Given the form Crystal Palace have maintained, Arne Slot is not taking the upcoming fixture lightly, especially with the discipline they’ve shown in defense.

"They have an enormous discipline defensively. 10 outfield players plus a goalkeeper that work so hard to prevent the other team from scoring. And we saw this also in the Community Shield even the moments when we were up they could still be very disciplined and calm in their own half in their mid to low block," speaking on what to expect, on Saturday afternoon.

"Apart from that, every team in in the Premier League have some individual quality some individual players who are a big threat offensively. (Jead-Philippe) Mateta is is one of them. (Ismaila) Sarr who wasn't available last week but might be available this week again was really good against us in the Community Shield," concluded Slot.

Crystal Palace have played five matches so far, having won three and shared the spoils in the other two matches. They have a tough week ahead, with a trip to Dynamo Kyiv and an away fixture against Everton on the cards.