Liverpool injury latest: Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and more

Liverpool injury latest: Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and more Liverpool injury news as Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo raise fresh concerns before Man City Liverpool came out of the first block of the season in good shape on the table and with momentum building under Andoni Iraola. The 1-0 win over Bournemouth, sealed by Alexander Isak, stretched the unbeaten start and kept the noise positive around Anfield. Then the international break got in the way, as it usually does. Now Liverpool have two fresh fitness concerns, and both matter. Isak has gone back to Merseyside after pulling out of the Sweden squad, while Cody Gakpo was forced off during the Netherlands’ 2-1 win over Serbia. With Manchester City next up at Anfield on October 11, that is not ideal timing. This is where Liverpool stand, player by player, and what it could mean for the biggest game of their season so far. Alexander Isak injury latest Isak is the headline issue because he is Liverpool’s reference point up front. He scored the winner against Bournemouth, then found the net again for Sweden against Romania, and now he is in a race to be ready for City. The problem is a thigh injury. The early indication is that it is not serious, which is the good news. The bad news is simple, international teams do not send players home for nothing. Sweden boss Graham Potter explained the situation clearly. “He’s got a small problem with his thigh,” Potter said during the pre-match press conference ahead of Sweden’s clash with Poland. “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. Photo: IMAGO “Not a big one but it’s frustrating for him and obviously for us. It is what it is but we move forward with the players we have. “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. “We’ve got a really big squad that we believe in. Clearly there’s not another Alexander Isak, that’s obvious. “In an ideal world, we want all our players available but the reality is we don’t have Alex for this game… clearly whoever comes in, we’re not going to ask them to be Alex. They just need to be themselves in the best way they can.” That last part is the one Liverpool supporters will focus on. Sweden can cope for a game or two. Liverpool facing City without their centre-forward is a different issue altogether. Cody Gakpo problem adds to attacking worry Gakpo’s situation is less clear, which usually means more uncertainty. He was excellent for the Netherlands against Germany, scoring a stoppage-time equaliser, then lasted only until the first half against Serbia after a heavy challenge from Sasa Lukic. He tried to continue, then asked to come off. That generally tells you enough. Players play through discomfort all the time. They do not ask for a substitution unless something is wrong. Photo: IMAGO Liverpool will wait for the assessment, but the fact it appears to be an ankle issue is significant. Those can settle quickly, or they can linger for weeks depending on the damage and swelling. For Iraola, the concern is obvious. Gakpo has been one of Liverpool’s sharpest attackers so far this season, direct, productive and far more decisive than he has been in some previous spells. Long-term injuries still shaping Iraola plans Beyond Isak and Gakpo, Liverpool are still carrying several longer-term absentees, and that affects rotation, squad balance and options from the bench. Hugo Ekitike remains out after rupturing his right Achilles tendon in April in the Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain. Achilles injuries are brutal, and Liverpool are treating it that way. The broad expectation has been a return somewhere between January and April 2027. There has been visible progress in recovery work, and Iraola’s decision to include him in the Champions League squad offered a hint of optimism, but there is no point pretending this will be rushed. Conor Bradley is further along than Ekitike, but still not close enough to think about immediate involvement. The Northern Ireland defender required surgery after suffering bone and ligament damage to his left knee in January against Arsenal. Iraola recently gave an honest update via club channels: “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.” That puts Bradley somewhere in the November to December bracket, assuming there are no setbacks. Federico Chiesa has yet to make a competitive appearance under Iraola after suffering a back muscle injury in pre-season against Como. This one looks more manageable. He was ruled out before Bournemouth, but the break has bought him more recovery time and there is a realistic chance he could be involved against City. Giovanni Leoni is another recovering from a serious knee issue after tearing his ACL on his first Anfield appearance, against Southampton in the Carabao Cup, following his £26 million move from Parma. The timeline always pointed towards a full year out. That remains broadly true, though Iraola has indicated Leoni is ahead of Bradley in recovery.