Liverpool injury latest: Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and more

Liverpool injury latest: Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and more Liverpool Injury News: Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo Doubts Ahead of Man City Clash Liverpool head into a massive Anfield meeting with Manchester City carrying real concerns in the one area Andoni Iraola can least afford them, the forward line. The game is already loaded with pressure, noise and plenty of edge. Now it comes with a fitness cloud over Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo, two of Liverpool’s most important attackers. That matters because this is the biggest test of Iraola’s short spell so far. City arrive with baggage of their own and Anfield will not be in a charitable mood. Liverpool supporters remember title races that slipped away by a point. They do not forget much. They certainly do not forget everything that has swirled around City off the pitch. For Iraola, sentiment is irrelevant. Availability is what counts. Right now, Liverpool have a waiting game on their hands. Photo IMAGO Alexander Isak fitness concern before Man City Isak returned early from Sweden duty after suffering a thigh issue, and Liverpool are still assessing the extent of it. The early signs suggest this is not a major injury, but timing is everything. With Manchester City next, even a minor problem can become a major headache. Sweden boss Graham Potter offered the clearest explanation so far. He said: “He’s got a small problem with his thigh. 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.” That sounds manageable, but manageable does not always mean available. Liverpool will need to decide whether Isak can start, whether he can make the bench, or whether this becomes a risk not worth taking. At this stage, the hope remains that he will be in contention for City at Anfield. Potential return date: Sunday October 11, vs Man City. Cody Gakpo injury update raises fresh doubt Gakpo’s situation is less clear. He made a major impact for the Netherlands, then ran into trouble in the next match after a heavy challenge from Sasa Lukic against Serbia. He tried to continue, then asked to come off. That is rarely a good sign. Liverpool will assess the ankle problem back on Merseyside, but there is no getting around the fact that Gakpo has been one of the club’s sharpest attacking players this season. In practical terms, if he misses City, Liverpool lose form, movement and end product in one go. The immediate problem is uncertainty. There is no confirmed timescale yet, which usually means the club are waiting for the swelling to settle and the scans to tell the full story. Until then, Iraola and his staff are guessing, and managers hate guessing. Potential return date: to be confirmed. Liverpool injury list beyond Isak and Gakpo The wider Liverpool injury picture is mixed. Some players are moving closer, others remain on a longer road back. Giovanni Leoni is the most encouraging case. The young centre-back, signed from Parma for around £26 million, has been out with an ACL tear suffered after his promising senior debut against Southampton in September 2025. He was stretchered off that night and the diagnosis effectively ended his season before it had started. Now there is light at the end of it. Leoni is expected to return to full training shortly after the Manchester City match. That does not mean an immediate first-team comeback, because a year out usually demands a controlled reintroduction, and under-21 minutes would make sense first. Still, if all goes well, the Carabao Cup tie with Chelsea later this month looks a realistic target. Potential return date: Tuesday October 27, vs Chelsea. Federico Chiesa has yet to feature competitively under Iraola after a back muscle issue suffered in the friendly with Como in August. The problem was initially described as small, but missing seven games tells its own story. Liverpool will hope the extra time over the international break is enough to get him into proper contention for City. Potential return date: Sunday October 11, vs Man City. Hugo Ekitike remains a longer-term absentee after rupturing his right Achilles tendon in April against Paris Saint-Germain. That sort of injury works to its own schedule and nobody should pretend otherwise. There is, however, some optimism around his recovery. He has been included in Liverpool’s Champions League squad and there is growing belief he could make it back before the year is out, earlier than many first expected. Potential return date: November or December. Conor Bradley is still some way off. The knee damage he suffered against Arsenal in January required surgery, and Iraola recently made clear that patience is required. As the Liverpool head coach 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.” Potential return date: November or December. Anfield test comes down to Liverpool availability This is the simple version. Liverpool can cope with one missing attacker against Manchester City. Losing two changes the entire equation. Iraola needs Isak’s threat and Gakpo’s form, particularly in a game where small margins tend to decide everything. There is still time for good news before Sunday, but not much. For now, Liverpool’s build-up is being shaped by medical reports rather than tactics. Against City, that is never ideal. And that is the point. All the noise around the fixture is secondary. Liverpool’s biggest issue is far more straightforward. Can Iraola get his best forwards on the pitch, or does his biggest test arrive with one hand tied behind his back?