Liverpool will be without both Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo for Sunday's Premier League showdown with Manchester City, though Jeremy Jacquet is fit to play. Isak and Gakpo each returned from international duty early with respective thigh and ankle injuries, which could lead to a new role in the attack for headline summer signing Bradley Barcola at Anfield.
Iraola confirms double injury blow
“Cody has an ankle injury and it is a matter of him dealing with the pain,” Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola confirmed at his pre-match press conference on Friday. “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 [injuries]. We will be analysing day-to-day.”
With Isak and Gakpo ruled out, along with long-term injury absentee Hugo Ekitike, all three of Liverpool’s natural centre-forwards will be unavailable for selection against Man City. Youngster Lewis Koumas has been dropped by the Reds boss, though a lack of Premier League experience is likely to be a deciding factor.
Barcola set for central role
That leaves the options of using Florian Wirtz as a false nine, or having Barcola - far more comfortable on the left-wing - operate through the middle. “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,” Iraola said of the £123million summer signing from Paris Saint-Germain.
Alternatively, pushing Wirtz further forward would allow Dominik Szoboszlai to regain his favoured No10 role - perhaps recreating the double false nine tactic adopted by Arne Slot in a 2-0 win over Man City during the 2024/25 title-winning campaign.
Jacquet fit and defensive boost
The good news for Liverpool is that Jacquet has shaken off a hamstring strain which forced him to miss France’s final Nations League game, meaning 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 after a back issue, but the Man City game comes too soon for Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni, though the latter is expected to resume full training imminently.
Predicted Liverpool XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Ngumoha, Szoboszlai, Barcola; Wirtz. Injured: Isak, Gakpo, Bradley, Leoni, Ekitike. Time and date: 4.30pm BST on Sunday October 11, 2026. Venue: Anfield. How to watch: Sky Sports.
