Milan, Sept. 24 (LaPresse) – Liverpool are concerned for young defender Giovanni Leoni, who was stretchered off with a serious left leg injury during Tuesday's League Cup match against Southampton. The 18-year-old Italian centre-back was making his debut for the Reds after joining from Parma, but his first appearance was cut short in the 81st minute following an awkward landing during a late-game challenge in Liverpool's 2-1 win at Anfield. He was treated by medical staff on the pitch and carried off on a stretcher. “When a player moves like that, it's usually not a good sign,” Liverpool coach Arne Slot told ITV. Leoni, who appeared to be in significant pain, is expected to undergo further tests, including an MRI scan. “A player’s emotions usually say a lot,” Slot added. “Over the weekend I saw a player in the Dutch Eredivisie – Ruben van Bommel of PSV – leave the field in tears, and it turned out to be nothing serious the next day. Let’s hope for the best.”