Liverpool’s squad has been hit with a handful of new injury worries during the international break, with Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Jeremy Jacquet all picking up issues on international duty ahead of a must-win meeting with league-leading Manchester City this weekend.
Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo concerns
Alexander Isak was forced to leave Sweden’s camp early after picking up a thigh injury. The Reds are yet to provide a fresh update on the striker's injury, which he sustained during the win against Romania on September 25, but Sweden boss Graham Potter stressed the issue wasn't too serious.
“He’s got a small problem with his thigh,” Potter said. “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.”
“It was during the game. Like anything, you sometimes get bumps and bruises in the game, you might think it’s a bit of a dead leg or something. But actually as the 24 hours, 48 hours after the game, not quite what you think,” he added.
“Unfortunately after getting it checked out, it’s a little bit more than what you think during the match. He has to miss the rest of the camp. Our medical team has been in contact with the club. Obviously it’s our decision in the first place because of his status, in terms of his injury. Once that’s the case, we have to inform everybody. That’s just normal.”
Potential return date: October 11 vs Man City (H)
Cody Gakpo was the Netherlands’ hero against Germany, scoring a stoppage-time equaliser to deny his former manager Jurgen Klopp a debut victory in international management. However, the Dutchman did not last as long in the second game, as he was on the receiving end of a strong tackle from Sasa Lukic against Serbia in the first half and then requested to be taken off after attempting to carry on.
Gakpo has put forward a strong case as Liverpool’s best attacking player so far this season, and Iraola will be desperate the ankle injury is not too serious. He has now returned to Liverpool early for assessment.
Potential return date: Unknown
Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni updates
Liverpool were handed a new injury scare on Monday night when Jeremy Jacquet was left out of the France squad altogether for the 4-1 win over Belgium. The French Football Federation (FFF) have since announced the defender was suffering from “strain to his left hamstring” and could now be a doubt to face Man City on Sunday.
Iraola will be expected to provide an update later in the week, with Jacquet already establishing himself alongside Virgil van Dijk for Liverpool this season.
Potential return date: October 11 vs Man City (H)
Giovanni Leoni was the victim of dreadful luck as he suffered a ruptured ACL on his Liverpool debut, subsequently missing a full year of action after undergoing surgery. In a huge boost for Liverpool, it has been reported by The Athletic that Leoni should be back in full training from October 12, following the Premier League showdown with Man City at Anfield.
That said, having been sidelined for over a year, he will, perhaps, need some minutes for the under-21s before being considered for first-team action. Though the Carabao Cup game against Chelsea at the end of the month could be a realistic target.
Potential return date: October 27 vs Chelsea (H)
Federico Chiesa, Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley
Federico Chiesa also has yet to play for Liverpool competitively under Iraola, having sat out the first seven games of the season due to what was described as a “small muscle injury” in his back sustained during the friendly against Como in August. Iraola confirmed that the Italian forward would not be in contention to face Bournemouth, though it is presumably hoped that he could be ready after the extended international break with more time to have worked on his fitness.
Potential return date: October 11 vs Man City (H)
Hugo Ekitike has not played since rupturing his right Achilles tendon in the second leg of Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain in April. The Frenchman missed the end of last season and the World Cup, with suggestions that he would remain sidelined for a period of between nine to 12 months, which would put him on track to return between January and April next year.
Iraola recently sprung a surprise by including Ekitike in his squad for the league phase of the Champions League, with the hope that he could potentially return for the final two games in January, against Inter Milan and Lens. According to reports in France, Ekitike is now targeting a return from injury before the end of the year after recently travelling to the United States to visit a specialist about his recovery.
Potential return date: November or December 2026
Conor Bradley is another long-term absentee for Liverpool, having undergone surgery on bone and ligament damage to his left knee suffered during the closing stages of the goalless draw with Arsenal in the Premier League back in January. Providing a new update on the Northern Ireland international earlier this season, Iraola said: “He is not close to training with the team. He is training alone but he has started touching the ball. We want him back as soon as possible.”
“He has a road a little bit ahead of him and it is going to take some time. I think [Giovanni] Leoni is a little bit ahead of him and still it’s going to take some time for Conor, yes.”
Potential return date: November or December 2026
