Liverpool will be without all three of their natural centre-forward options for Sunday's Premier League showdown with Manchester City at Anfield, after a double injury blow ruled out Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo.
Head coach Andoni Iraola confirmed in his pre-match press conference that both players will miss the match. "Cody has an ankle injury and it is a matter of him dealing with the pain," he said. "It was a bad tackle. He is doing things individually. Alex has a thigh injury, it is a small injury but a muscle injury. They don't look like long-term. We will be analysing day-to-day."
With Isak and Gakpo unavailable, and Hugo Ekitike still absent through a long-term injury, all three of Liverpool's natural centre-forwards are ruled out for the visit of Manchester City.
Creative options for Iraola
Iraola will therefore need to be creative with his selection. Youngster Lewis Koumas has been named by the Reds boss, though his lack of Premier League experience is likely to be a deciding factor.
The remaining options are to deploy Florian Wirtz as a false nine, or Bradley Barcola - who is far more comfortable on the left wing - through the middle. Speaking about the £123 million summer signing from Paris Saint-Germain, Iraola said: "He is a top player for us, he can play in any position up front, probably has played more as a left winger, but has played a little bit as a striker, even more as a right winger, so he can cover three positions up front and is a super valuable player for us."
Alternatively, pushing Wirtz further forward would allow Dominik Szoboszlai to regain his favoured number 10 role, potentially recreating the double false nine tactic used by Arne Slot in a 2-0 win over Manchester City during the 2024/25 title-winning campaign.
Defensive boost and predicted lineup
There is positive news for Liverpool, as Jeremy Jacquet has shaken off a hamstring strain which forced him to miss France's final Nations League game. That means Iraola can keep faith in a back five that has kept three Premier League clean sheets in a row.
Federico Chiesa could make a matchday squad for the first time this season, but the Manchester City game comes too soon for Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni, though the latter is expected to resume full training imminently.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Ngumoha, Szoboszlai, Barcola; Wirtz.
Injured: Isak, Gakpo, Bradley, Leoni, Ekitike. Doubts: Jacquet. Time and date: 4.30pm BST on Sunday, October 11, 2026. How to watch: Sky Sports. Venue: Anfield.
