regret

’s season thus far has been . Late winners might stay ever-present for now, however there are indicators that their luck is starting to expire.

Giovanni Leoni, their gargantuan 18-year-old Italian centre-back, is , one suffered 80 minutes into what was a . “He isn’t in an excellent place in fact as a result of he tore his ACL so he will probably be out for round a 12 months,” Slot mentioned. “Being so younger, coming to a brand new nation, enjoying so properly in your first sport, it is vitally onerous to take a optimistic – there is no such thing as a optimistic however he’s nonetheless so younger, has so a few years to go after he recovers from a horrible harm like that.”

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It’s a desperately unlucky setback for the participant, whose assured first look showcased his very excessive ceiling and swiftly justified the hype that surrounded him. It additionally leaves in a severe predicament with almost the entire season to play.

Giovanni Leoni will probably be out for “round a 12 months” after tearing his ACL (Getty Photos)

’s arsenal now holds simply three senior centre-backs: Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez. This doesn’t embody the likes of midfielders Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch, who’ve stood in as makeshift centre-backs earlier than. Slot says this isn’t such a foul factor, stating that he prefers to work with smaller squads. “That’s the selection we make as a result of I consider that each participant must have perspective of improvement or enjoying time,” he mentioned. “If I each time should say that, on a day like right now, I’ve to disappoint 4 or 5 gamers, I consider that’s not the correct vitality that you simply need to have within the constructing.” He nonetheless concedes that such an strategy has its risks. “Then again, which means should you get one harm, you do not have two replacements anymore, so you do not have two gamers for each place anymore. That’s the chance you’re taking.”

Leoni was nonetheless introduced in to interchange final season’s fourth-choice centre again , who was . However in fact, there ought to’ve been a fifth – and on Saturday afternoon, they’ll face a pertinent reminder of “what may’ve been”.

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would’ve had 27 September down in his calendar as a return to his previous stomping grounds when he was wrapping up his Liverpool medical on the afternoon of deadline day. ’s lack of ability to seek out alternative – particularly Igor, who ditched his personal medical at Selhurst Park to maneuver to West Ham – . There was huge hypothesis that the way in which occasions unfolded had infuriated Guehi, with speak that the England worldwide would launch a tell-all assertion – – within the days that adopted.

Marc Guehi has rebelled towards Crystal Palace since his failed transfer to Liverpool (PA Wire)

Such an announcement by no means got here. In keeping with his impeccable summer season behaviour, Guehi has epitomised professionalism as he returned to work with Palace, nonetheless with the captain’s armband. And as he welcomes Liverpool to SE25, appearing in hindrance moderately than as an asset, it’s the guests who look the true losers of the saga.

Slot was unwilling to enter depth a couple of participant who isn’t his personal. “I don’t suppose at some point earlier than we play them to speak about that once more,” he mentioned. “He’s a participant and has been essential for them so long as he was there.”

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However in preparation for the journey, Liverpool may have accomplished with a little bit of Guehi’s insider information on the Eagles. Oliver Glasner’s facet are the one group but to foil the Reds this season, coming from behind twice to . It was a deserving victory, with Palace’s all-action assault making Van Dijk and Konate look unusually novice – a impolite awakening within the season curtain-raiser.

Liverpool, whereas unconvincing, have since gone undefeated in 2025/26. As have Palace. They’re the one two Premier League sides with a zero within the L column, albeit one has three extra wins than the opposite. That needs to be anticipated given the close to £400m distinction in summer season expenditure. But regardless of the gulf in wealth, Palace are rightly being handled as one of many largest threats to Liverpool’s successful starting.

The reigning champions have been depending on their goalscoring exploits this season as a consequence of defensive frailty. They’ve thrown away leads in 5 of their first seven – most lately towards Southampton in midweek – they usually’ve required late winners in six of their first seven – once more, most lately towards Southampton in midweek. Their want for last-gasp heroics may be very a lot a factor of the current. Glasner’s defence, shepherded by skipper Guehi, doesn’t let objectives in simply, nevertheless. They’ve conceded simply two within the Premier League this time period, joint with Arsenal as the highest flight’s finest defence.

That is one thing Liverpool know all too properly. “They’ve an unlimited self-discipline defensively. We noticed this within the Group Protect,” Slot mentioned. Whereas a quick begin and a freak Jeremie Frimpong cross noticed them bag two at Wembley in August, Palace’s defensive impenetrability after the break was key to their eventual penalties defeat, as was Liverpool’s comparative second-half vulnerability which opened the door for the Eagles to attract stage. “They’ve some particular person high quality, some particular person gamers who’re an enormous menace offensively,” the Dutchman added.

Palace’s defensive impenetrability was key to their Group Protect win over Liverpool (Getty Photos)

This time, their mission to interrupt Palace down will probably be made even tougher. The absence of Hugo Ekitike because of means the Reds are with out their most in-form attacker, whereas £125m man Isak continues to be not able to play a full sport. “I do not suppose it is sensible to play him (for) 90 but,” Slot asserted.

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However had Liverpool snatched Guehi on deadline day, eradicating a central cog of Palace’s system and offering additional depth in high quality into their very own, the issues of the Group Protect might have already been alleviated previous to kick-off at Selhurst Park. As a substitute, the identical pitfalls stay and Liverpool will seemingly must depend on a standout efficiency of the marketing campaign to date, moderately than Arne time, to take care of their 100% begin.