Liverpool left it late to rescue a point in their opening Premier League game of the new season. Trailing 2-1 against Newcastle in the 96th minute, Victor Munoz - on his competitive debut - burst into the box and was brought down by Lewis Hall to earn the visitors a penalty. With the last kick of the game, Dominik Szoboszlai kept his cool and thumped the spot-kick into the roof of the net to silence the majority inside St James' Park.
Chiesa doubt for Anfield opener
New head coach Andoni Iraola will be encouraged that his side twice fought back from losing positions, though will hope certain mistakes are not repeated against Nottingham Forest in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off at Anfield. The one negative from the 2-2 draw was a fresh injury concern regarding Federico Chiesa as he missed the trip up north and is now a doubt for Liverpool's first home game of the new campaign.
It was reported after Liverpool announced their line-up at St James' Park that Chiesa missed out because of a fitness issue which saw him sit out training earlier in the week. Iraola did not provide an update on the Italian in the post-match press conference, meaning it's touch and go as to whether a return to the squad at the weekend is on the cards for the forward. Potential return date: August 29, vs Nottingham Forest (h).
Gomez and Ekitike return dates
Joe Gomez may boost Liverpool's defensive options against Forest as he was expected to be sidelined for a month after sustaining an injury in the pre-season win over Sunderland on July 25. "Joe has a muscle injury. I think it was quite clear since he complained straight away, so it will depend how he evolves, but he will be some weeks off," Iraola said. "It's a muscle injury and [with] muscle injuries it is difficult to say one day, but normally I always put myself as one month. If it goes very good the injury is a little bit less, if [not] it goes a little more. It's not massive, it's a normal muscle injury, [but] I think it's going to be impossible to have him for the start of the season because we are not so far [away]. It shouldn't be a lot more." Potential return date: August 29, vs Nottingham Forest (h).
Hugo Ekitike ruptured his Achilles against Paris Saint-Germain in April, and has not played since. In fact, the Frenchman may not play again this calendar year following a rather concerning update. "In terms of order, I think the closest one to returning is Leoni. After will be Conor and Hugo, but especially the last two are still way off," Iraola said. "We are talking about months and still a lot of time out." Potential return date: Early 2027.
Bradley and Leoni updates
Conor Bradley suffered a serious knee injury against Arsenal in January. While Bradley avoided an ACL injury, the defender required surgery to repair damage to ligaments and bone in his left knee. A Liverpool statement read: "Liverpool FC can confirm Conor Bradley has sustained a significant knee injury. The right-back suffered the issue in the latter stages of Thursday night's Premier League fixture away at Arsenal. Bradley will undergo surgery in the coming days and then begin a period of rehabilitation at the AXA Training Centre. No timeframe is being placed on his return to playing at this stage of the process." Potential return date: November 2026.
Giovanni Leoni suffered a nightmare Liverpool debut when sustained an ACL injury against Southampton in the Carabao Cup and was ruled out for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. However, of Liverpool's long-term absentees, the Italian is expected to return first - though not for another few months. "In terms of order, I think the closest one to returning is Leoni," Iraola said in late July. "After that it will be Conor and Hugo. But especially the last two are still way off, we are talking about months and still a lot of time out." Potential return date: October 2026.
