Liverpool are sweating over the fitness of two key attackers, Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo, after both reported back from international duty earlier than expected ahead of the Premier League showdown with Manchester City at Anfield.
The Reds are also awaiting updates on several other players, including Hugo Ekitike, Federico Chiesa, Giovanni Leoni, and Conor Bradley, as Andoni Iraola faces major injury concerns before the visit of the current Premier League leaders.
Isak and Gakpo injury concerns
Alexander Isak withdrew from the Sweden squad last weekend and returned to Liverpool for further assessment on a minor injury sustained during the win against Romania on September 25. The Reds are yet to provide a fresh update on the striker's thigh issue, but Sweden boss Graham Potter stressed the problem was not 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. 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.”
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. He has now returned to Liverpool early for assessment.
Leoni close to comeback, Chiesa and Ekitike updates
Giovanni Leoni signed for Liverpool from Parma last summer in a deal worth around £26million, but a serious knee injury has limited him to just one senior appearance. The Italian central defender made his debut in a Carabao Cup third round tie against Southampton in September 2025, and impressed before landing awkwardly following a challenge near the touchline just over 10 minutes from time. He was stretchered off and it was later confirmed he had suffered an ACL tear, with an expected full year out of action.
In a 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. Having been sidelined for over a year, he may need 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.
Federico Chiesa has yet to play 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 hoped he could be ready after the extended international break.
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 between nine to 12 months, putting him on track to return between January and April next year. Iraola recently included Ekitike in his squad for the league phase of the Champions League, hoping 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 before the end of the year after recently travelling to the United States to visit a specialist about his recovery.
Bradley long-term absentee
Conor Bradley is another long-term absentee, 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, 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.”
