Liverpool have started this season in flying colors, with victories stacking up one after the other, but even in moments of celebration there always seems to be something waiting to test the spirit of the team. The 2025/26 campaign has barely begun, yet the Reds have already been hit with a mixture of glory, drama, injury heartbreak, and now a fascinating twist involving UEFA’s newest rules. At the center of it all is young Giovanni Leoni, the Italian defender who arrived from Parma this summer with so much promise, and whose future suddenly hangs in the balance after a cruel injury on his debut. And around his absence lies the possibility of Liverpool taking advantage of what many fans are now calling a Champions League “loophole.
To understand the full weight of this story, you have to look back at what has been happening at Anfield over the past two weeks. The Reds kicked off their Champions League campaign with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid at Anfield. The atmosphere that night was electric, the kind of night that defines European football. Then came the Merseyside Derby against Everton, another test of resilience, and Liverpool showed their strength with a 2-1 victory that left the blue half of the city crushed. After that came Southampton in the Carabao Cup, a game that was meant to be routine but quickly became one of the most dramatic nights of the season so far.
Liverpool won 2-1 thanks to goals from Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike. But that match was remembered not for the goals, but for two major flashpoints. First, Hugo Ekitike’s bizarre decision to remove his shirt after scoring, forgetting he was already on a yellow card, which earned him a red and furious words from Arne Slot, who called it “stupid.” And second, the devastating injury to Giovanni Leoni, the teenage defender who had just been handed his full debut.
Leoni had been immense on the night, showing maturity far beyond his 18 years. He completed 88 of his 91 passes, showed confidence on the ball, and looked every bit like the future of Liverpool’s defense. But football can be cruel, and in the 81st minute he went down awkwardly after a collision. The pain was immediate. He tried to get up but collapsed again, forcing the medical team to rush onto the pitch. For several minutes the stadium held its breath as treatment was given, and when the stretcher came out, the sadness was written all over the fans’ faces.
Anfield stood as one to applaud him off the field. Even in pain, even as tears filled his eyes, the teenager raised his hand to acknowledge the ovation. It was a powerful moment, a reminder of how quickly joy can turn into despair in this sport. Arne Slot himself walked over to check on his young defender before he disappeared down the tunnel. That image will remain in the memory of fans for a long time.
After the match, Slot admitted he didn’t yet know how serious the injury was. “He’s down because for him it didn’t feel good immediately,” he said. “But this is something we have to assess. Normally these things don’t happen in five to ten minutes, you have to wait for the next day to see how he comes in. Then maybe we do an MRI scan to know more.” His words were careful, but his face showed the worry.
For Liverpool, the timing could not have been worse. Just days earlier they had announced their 22-man Champions League squad, and Leoni had been included as a sign of faith in his ability. But now, with him potentially facing weeks or even months on the sidelines, a door has opened that could change everything.
Earlier this month UEFA introduced a new rule that very few people paid attention to at the time. It allows clubs to make a “temporary” replacement in their European squads if a player suffers what is classified as a “long-term injury or illness.” The definition of long-term, according to UEFA, is an absence lasting at least 60 days from the date of the injury. If that happens, the club can replace the injured player with another member of the squad, but here’s the twist: even if the injured player recovers quicker than expected, he cannot be restored to the squad once replaced.
This rule was meant to help clubs deal with unforeseen injuries in an already congested season. Chelsea have already used it, swapping Facundo Buonanotte in for the injured Dario Essugo. Nottingham Forest also made use of it, replacing Ola Aina with Oleksandr Zinchenko. Now Liverpool might be next, depending on the results of Leoni’s scans.
The idea of Liverpool being able to call on another player has got supporters buzzing, because one name immediately comes to mind: Federico Chiesa. The Italian winger, signed from Juventus this summer, was left out of the Champions League squad when it was first announced. It was a controversial call, and many fans felt it was a mistake. Chiesa had struggled for minutes at the start of the season under Arne Slot, but against Southampton he was sensational, providing two assists and showing the class that made him one of Europe’s most admired attackers.
On social media, Liverpool fans have been loud about this situation. One supporter wrote: “I’m sorry but Chiesa not being in the Champions League squad is genuinely a crime.” Another posted: “It’s a disgrace Federico Chiesa isn’t included.” After watching him dismantle Southampton’s defense, the pressure on Slot to include him has only grown stronger.
But the question is: will Slot go with Chiesa, or will he use the UEFA rule to bring in a direct replacement for Leoni? The obvious candidate in that case is Rhys Williams, the young center-back who has been in and around the squad for years. Williams knows European football, he has played in the Champions League before during Liverpool’s injury crisis in 2021, and he would provide direct cover for the central defense.
Slot is now caught in a delicate balancing act. On one hand, Chiesa offers attacking quality that could change European nights in Liverpool’s favor. On the other, Leoni’s absence leaves a defensive hole that may need plugging with a natural center-back. With Liverpool set to face Galatasaray away in Istanbul in their next Champions League game, the decision will be crucial.
The debate has spilled into pubs, podcasts, and fan channels. Some argue that Liverpool’s defense is already solid with Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, Joe Gomez, and Jarell Quansah, so adding Chiesa makes more sense. Others believe that losing Leoni reduces the depth too much, and that another defender is needed for balance.
One thing is certain: this new UEFA rule has created drama that would never have existed in past seasons. Before, once a squad was named, it was locked until January. Now there is room for maneuver, but with strict consequences. If Liverpool replace Leoni and he somehow returns before December, he would not be eligible to play in the group stage at all.
Beyond the technical details, there is also the human side. For Leoni, this is heartbreaking. To make your debut at Anfield, to play so well, and then to leave on a stretcher knowing your Champions League dream might vanish before it even begins—that is cruel. His story is now tied to this rule, because his absence could pave the way for someone else’s inclusion.
For Chiesa, this could be redemption. Left out of the squad, doubted by some, he now has the chance to step back into the European spotlight if Slot decides to use him. It feels almost like destiny that one Italian’s misfortune could open the door for another.
The next few days will decide everything. Liverpool’s medical team will assess Leoni, and the scans will reveal whether his injury crosses UEFA’s 60-day threshold. If it does, Slot must choose between strengthening his attack with Chiesa or shoring up his defense with Williams. Either way, Liverpool will be making headlines again, not just for their results but for how they navigate this new loophole.
And that is where the beauty and drama of football lies. A rule change made quietly by UEFA has suddenly become one of the most talked-about topics in Liverpool’s season. The supporters are debating, the pundits are analyzing, and inside Anfield’s walls the manager is weighing up one of the first big decisions of his reign.
For now, the team marches on. Three wins in three different competitions in one week show their strength. But as they prepare for Galatasaray, everyone is waiting to see if a new name will be on that Champions League squad list.
Will it be Chiesa, the forgotten Italian who reminded everyone of his quality? Will it be Rhys Williams, the loyal defender who has always answered the call? Or will Slot gamble on Leoni’s recovery and keep things as they are?
Whatever happens, this story has already shown that Liverpool’s season will be about more than just results. It will be about resilience, about adapting to rules, and about finding opportunity in crisis. And it will be about young Giovanni Leoni, whose night of pain may yet shape Liverpool’s path in Europe this season.
