Liverpool travel to Austrian Bundesliga champions LASK on Wednesday for their second Champions League league phase match, aiming to bounce back from a 3-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City on Sunday. The Reds could be without as many as seven senior players for the match, with several key figures sidelined.
Gravenberch available for European duty
Ryan Gravenberch, who was sent off in the 62nd minute against Manchester City, will be able to feature against LASK because Premier League suspensions do not carry over into European competition. He will then miss the Premier League clash at Brentford on Saturday, but will be available for the Champions League home match against Villarreal next Tuesday before returning to domestic duty in the home game against Brighton & Hove Albion on October 25.
Szoboszlai and Isak doubts
Dominik Szoboszlai was ruled out of the Manchester City match with a hamstring issue. Manager Andoni Iraola played down its seriousness but indicated the Hungary captain is likely to miss the LASK fixture. "Dom came from the national team, tiredness, overload," Iraola said. "We put him as a floater in the training session, try to protect him, but he was not feeling [right], it was something very small. But it's true that now we play four games in 10 days. So it's going to be difficult, because now we fly to Austria in two days. So I think it's going to be difficult to recover any of the players."
Alexander Isak sustained a thigh injury while on international duty with Sweden, after scoring in their 2-1 win over Romania. Sweden boss Graham Potter said: "He’s got a small problem with his thigh. It’s not a big one but because of the amount of games we’ve got in a small space of time, he won’t be able to make those." Iraola added: "Alex has a thigh injury. It's not a massive injury, it's a small injury." Both Szoboszlai and Isak are targeting a potential return at Brentford on Saturday, October 17.
Gakpo and long-term absentees
Cody Gakpo sustained an ankle injury in a Netherlands match after a challenge from Serbia's Sasa Lukic. Iraola said: "Cody has an ankle injury. He has had some before in his career and it's a matter of him dealing with the pain. When you twist your ankle, it was a really bad tackle I think, he is doing things individually but he isn't ready for Sunday." Dutch journalist Rik Elfrink reported he will be out for "several weeks".
Giovanni Leoni could return to the main group by the middle of this month but is unlikely to be considered immediately. Hugo Ekitike, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in April, could return to training next month according to L'Equipe, with a potential comeback target of Boxing Day. Conor Bradley remains the furthest away, with Iraola saying last month: "I think he is not close to training with the team. He’s training alone, but he has started touching the ball. Definitely, I want him as quick as possible ready, but it’s a long-term injury."
