Liverpool have been dealt a fresh injury blow after Cody Gakpo was substituted inside 16 minutes while representing the Netherlands this evening. The Reds forward collapsed without any contact during a break in play and was pictured wincing while clutching his lower left leg, near the ankle.
Challenge leads to substitution
The problem appears to have stemmed from an earlier challenge, when Gakpo collected the ball inside the Serbia half, cutting infield and shrugging off two challenges before being brought down under a sliding tackle from Ipswich Town midfielder Sasa Lukic, who was shown a yellow card.
Gakpo gestured to the Dutch bench to request a substitution, triggering injury concerns just hours after it emerged that Alexander Isak had withdrawn from Sweden duty with a minor complaint.
Impact on Liverpool's fixtures
Depending on the extent of the former PSV Eindhoven star's problem, he could be ruled out of the Netherlands' next two fixtures against Greece (October 1) and the return match against Serbia (October 4).
Gakpo has been in impressive form under new Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola, contributing two goals and four assists across all competitions. Three of his assists have come in the Premier League, including two for Isak during the 2-0 victory at Ipswich Town on September 4.
Gakpo had appeared destined to depart Anfield during the summer transfer window before the club intervened to block a move to Manchester City, following failed attempts to sign Yankuba Minteh and Ismaila Sarr.
Medical team faces anxious wait
The Reds' medical team now faces an anxious wait over the diagnosis for the 27-year-old's injury with a home game against Man City looming on October 11. Enzo Maresca's side visit Anfield in a mouthwatering clash to mark the resumption of club football after the international break. It will be City's first match since being found guilty of 114 of the 115 Premier League charges against them for breaching financial rules.
But Liverpool may have to face them without both Gakpo and Isak. In an official statement, Liverpool confirmed that a minor injury has cut short the Swedish striker's participation with Graham Potter's side.
The statement read: "Alexander Isak is to return to Liverpool from international duty due to a minor injury. The striker will not be involved in Sweden's three remaining fixtures in the current international break and will now be assessed by club medical staff at the AXA Training Centre."
While Potter said: "He has a small problem with his thigh, it's nothing big but because of the amount of games in a short time he won’t be able to play. It's frustrating both for him and for us. But it is what it is."
