International injury concerns raised as Liverpool suffer blow

International injury concerns raised as Liverpool suffer blow Cody Gakpo Injury Adds to Liverpool Worries During Extended International Break Liverpool have another fitness concern to monitor after Cody Gakpo was forced off during the Netherlands’ 2-1 win over Serbia, adding to the growing list of players affected by this unusually long international window. According to BBC Football, Gakpo lasted only 17 minutes before leaving the pitch while grimacing and holding the lower part of his right leg. For Liverpool, that is the detail that matters. Early exits during internationals always trigger concern, and this one comes at a bad time given how sharply he had started the season. Gakpo has already contributed two goals and four assists in six games in all competitions, and he has looked like one of Liverpool’s sharper attacking options in the opening weeks. Under Andoni Iraola, who has just taken charge, availability matters as much as form. A new manager needs continuity, repetition and working parts. International football rarely helps with that. Photo IMAGO Gakpo injury latest after early Netherlands exit Netherlands boss Xavi Hernández confirmed a scan would follow on Monday. “It’s his ankle, that’s all I know,” he said. “Tomorrow we will know, but hopefully it’s not too important.” That is cautious rather than reassuring. Managers at international level often downplay injuries before tests are complete. Until Liverpool’s medical staff assess him, speculation is pointless, but the initial signs were enough to make this one worth watching closely. The wider issue is familiar. Clubs pay the wages, carry the risk and then spend international breaks hoping key players return intact. This year that problem has been amplified by the scheduling. The first international break of the 2026-27 season now stretches across three weeks, with four matches packed into a period that usually contains two. More games means more load, more travel and more opportunities for something to go wrong. International break injuries piling up Gakpo was not the only high-profile casualty. Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes missed Portugal’s match against Norway after playing through a problem against Wales. Portugal boss Jorge Jesus said, “He played with an injury he brought from Manchester United,” and added, “He really wanted to play against Wales.” His United team-mate Patrick Dorgu also went off injured during Denmark’s 2-0 win over Wales after only 30 minutes. Elsewhere, Arsenal’s Kai Havertz and Sunderland forward Brian Brobbey both picked up issues in the Netherlands’ draw with Germany. Sunderland also saw Dan Ballard suffer a hamstring injury for Northern Ireland. Abroad, Kylian Mbappe has been ruled out for at least two weeks after hurting his knee for France, while Jamal Musiala withdrew after a muscle problem in the warm-up against the Netherlands. In other words, this is not isolated. It is systemic, and clubs across Europe are paying the price. Alexander Isak return offers slight relief For Liverpool, there is at least one small positive. Alexander Isak has already returned from Sweden duty after a minor thigh issue. He had completed 90 minutes and scored in Sweden’s 2-1 win over Romania, but he will miss the rest of the break and be assessed at Kirkby. That is the sensible outcome. There is no prize for proving toughness in September if it creates problems in October and November. Liverpool need their best forwards available, especially while Iraola settles into the job and tries to establish rhythm after a summer of major change. For now, the focus is simple. Wait for the scan, assess the damage and hope the Gakpo injury is minor. Until then, Liverpool are left in the same position as everyone else during this break, frustrated, powerless and watching the medical updates. Our View As a Liverpool supporter, this report is exactly the kind of thing that drains patience with the international calendar. Gakpo has started the season well, Isak has already had to come back early, and now we are all waiting on scan results because another player has been pushed into a schedule that looks excessive before autumn has even properly started. There is a bigger concern here too. Iraola has only just walked in. He needs time on the training ground, time with his forwards, and time to build patterns. Instead, Liverpool are dealing with disruption and fitness uncertainty. That does not help a squad adjusting to a new voice and a new set of demands. Supporters hear the same line every year, that these games matter and the calendar cannot be helped. Fine. But if players are breaking down in September because the window has been stretched and four internationals have been crammed into three weeks, then somebody has got the balance badly wrong. The hope now is straightforward. Gakpo’s ankle issue needs to be minor, Isak’s thigh problem needs to settle quickly, and Liverpool need their medical staff to regain control of the situation. That sounds basic, but for a club trying to start cleanly under a new head coach, it is already become a test of squad resilience. Source: BBC Football