Liverpool return to Premier League action against Manchester United on November 22, with manager Andoni Iraola hoping no further players are lost to injury during the international break. Five players sat out the Reds' final match before the break, a victory over Crystal Palace, and two more fitness concerns have since emerged.
Dominik Szoboszlai suffered a knee issue against the Eagles, while Virgil van Dijk withdrew from the Netherlands squad due to a fitness setback. Iraola had previously said he hoped the squad would be in a 'better place' injury-wise for the United game, with long-term absentees edging closer to returns before the end of the year.
Van Dijk and Szoboszlai fitness concerns
The Netherlands confirmed Van Dijk's withdrawal from international duty on Monday due to a fitness issue, with reports indicating he had been playing with a minor problem in recent weeks. Liverpool will hope two weeks' rest leaves him ready for Manchester United.
Szoboszlai injured his knee in the win over Crystal Palace, playing on with heavy strapping after treatment shortly before half-time before being withdrawn after 69 minutes. Iraola hinted he might pull out of international duty, but the midfielder joined up with Hungary after medical tests. The Hungarian Football Federation confirmed on Tuesday that Szoboszlai would remain with the squad, working with their medical team before a late decision on his availability.
Gravenberch and Frimpong sidelined
Ryan Gravenberch was left out of the Netherlands squad as he continues to manage a heel injury, having missed the last two matches against Fenerbahce and Crystal Palace. He was also an unused substitute against Arsenal. Iraola has said the midfielder is being monitored day-to-day, with a return dependent on pain management. Before the Crystal Palace game, he said: "The only doubt we will have is Ryan. The Ryan Gravenberch thing is a day-to-day thing, it's a matter of pain. Let's see if he can deal with the pain and he can help us."
Jeremie Frimpong faces a fresh spell on the sidelines after suffering a muscle injury in the win at Brentford. Iraola said Frimpong would be out for "some time" and would not return before the November international break. He said: "Jeremie Frimpong is obviously a new muscle injury and it happened, I think, in the second or third minute he was playing, difficult to predict and we will have to wait until he recovers. But it's going to be difficult, I think, before the [November international] break. We will try but it's going to be difficult to have him." He was left out of the Netherlands squad.
Leoni, Ekitike and Bradley recovery timelines
Giovanni Leoni's planned return after more than a year out has been delayed, with his injury more complicated than initially reported. The £26m arrival from Parma has been absent since suffering serious ACL damage on his debut in the Carabao Cup win over Southampton in September 2025. Iraola said last month: "It's taking more time than we wanted. The planning was to train with the team in this past international break [but] probably it's going to be in the next international break, so we've lost one month in the process. Giovanni's injury, I wasn't here, but talking to the medical department, it was not just an ACL – it was a bad injury, a lot of things around the knee were involved apart from the ACL."
Hugo Ekitike has not played since rupturing his Achilles tendon against Paris Saint-Germain in April. According to L'Equipe, he could return to training later this month, with a long-term target of returning by Boxing Day. Iraola said: "He is still doing very well according to the plan." Conor Bradley, who suffered a knee injury in January at Arsenal, is further ahead than Ekitike and closing in on light training. Iraola said: "Conor is not so far from training with the group – not like full training but doing some things with the group." A potential return is expected next month.
