This article provides updates on Liverpool FC players' injuries and their potential return dates ahead of an upcoming match against Manchester City. Alexander Isak, who withdrew from the Sweden national team due to a minor thigh injury, is tentatively set to return on October 11 for the Man City game. Cody Gakpo, who left early during a Netherlands match with an ankle injury, has returned to Liverpool for assessment and his exact return date is unknown. Additionally, Giovanni Leoni, who signed from Parma last summer but suffered a serious knee injury that resulted in an ACL tear, remains out of action indefinitely.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Liverpool's upcoming match against Manchester City on Sunday, October 11, is expected to be tense given recent news that Man City were found guilty of all charges regarding breaches of Premier League financial regulations, despite their ongoing appeal. Liverpool supporters are likely to create a hostile atmosphere during the game due to close title races lost to City in previous seasons.
Cody Gakpo, who scored a crucial equalizer for the Netherlands against Germany, was injured in the following match versus Serbia and had to leave early after sustaining a tackle from Sasa Lukic. His return date is uncertain as he was taken off due to injury concerns.
Alexander Isak recently withdrew from the Sweden national team due to a minor thigh injury sustained during their game against Romania on September 25. While Swedish manager Graham Potter noted that it wasn't severe, Liverpool has not provided an update on when Isak will return to play.
Written for “Liverpool Injury Updates” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
This weekend's showdown at Anfield will be interesting in more ways than one, particularly after Man City - who have launched an appeal - were found guilty by an independent commission of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations.
asserted
who → launch → regulations
With many Liverpool supporters feeling aggrieved at missing out in two title races with City by a single point, it's been widely predicted that a hostile atmosphere awaits the current Premier League leaders.
asserted
atmosphere → feel → leaders
Last weekend it was announced that Isak has withdrawn from the Sweden squad and returned to Liverpool for further assessment on a minor injury.
asserted
Isak → announce → injury
The Reds are yet to provide a fresh update on the striker's thigh injury which he sustained during the win against Romania on September 25, but Sweden boss Graham Potter stressed the issue wasn't too serious.
asserted
issue → provide → September
“He’s got a small problem with his thigh,” Potter said.
asserted
Potter → get → 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.
asserted
he → ’ → those
Like anything, you sometimes get bumps and bruises in the game, you might think it’s a bit of a dead leg or something.
uncertain
it → get → leg
But actually as the 24 hours, 48 hours after the game, not quite what you think.
asserted
you → think → what
“Unfortunately after getting it checked out, it’s a little bit more than what you think during the match.
asserted
you → get → match
He has to miss the rest of the camp.
asserted
He → have → camp
Obviously it’s our decision in the first place because of his status, in terms of his injury.
asserted
it → ’ → injury
Once that’s the case, we have to inform everybody.
asserted
we → ’ → everybody
That’s just normal."
asserted
That → ’ → ?
Potential return date: Sunday October 11, vs Man City (H)
Cody Gakpo
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.
asserted
he → score → half
Gakpo has put forward a strong case as Liverpool’s best attacking player so far this season and Iraola will be desperate the ankle injury is not too serious.
asserted
injury → put → player
He has now returned to Liverpool early for assessment.
asserted
He → return → assessment
Potential return date: Unknown
Giovanni Leoni
Leoni signed for Liverpool from Parma last summer in a deal worth around £26million, but a serious knee injury means he has been limited to just one senior appearance so far.
asserted
he → sign → appearance
The Italian central defender made his Liverpool 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.
asserted
defender → make → time
Leoni required treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off and it was later confirmed he had suffered an ACL tear.
He was expected to miss a full year of action, which has proved to be the case.
asserted
which → require → action
In a huge 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.
asserted
Leoni → report → Anfield
That said, having been sidelined for over a year, he will, perhaps, need some minutes for the under-21s before being considered for first-team action.
asserted
he → say → action
Potential return date: Tuesday October 27, vs Chelsea (H)
Federico Chiesa
Federico Chiesa has also yet to play for Liverpool 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.
asserted
what → have → August
Iraola confirmed that the Italian forward would not be in contention to face Bournemouth, though it is presumably hoped that he could be ready after the extended international break with more time to have worked on his fitness.
uncertain
he → confirm → fitness
Potential return date: Sunday October 11, vs Man City (H)
Hugo Ekitike
The Frenchman missed the end of last season and the World Cup, with suggestions that he would remain sidelined for a period of between nine to 12 months, which would put him on track to return between January and April next year.
asserted
which → miss → January
Iraola recently sprung a surprise by including Ekitike in his squad for the league phase of the Champions League, with the hope that he could potentially return for the final two games in January, against Inter Milan and Lens.
uncertain
he → spring → Milan
According to reports in France, Ekitike is now targeting a return from injury before the end of the year after recently travelling to the United States to visit a specialist about his recovery.
uncertain
Ekitike → accord → recovery
Potential return date: November or December
Conor Bradley
Conor Bradley is another long-term absentee for Liverpool, 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.
asserted
Bradley → undergo → January
Providing a new update on the Northern Ireland international, Iraola said: “He is not close to training with the team.
asserted
He → provide → team
He is training alone but he has started touching the ball.
asserted
he → train → ball
We want him back as soon as possible.
asserted
him → want → ?
“He has a road a little bit ahead of him and it is going to take some time.
asserted
it → have → time
“I think [Giovanni] Leoni is a little bit ahead of him and still it’s going to take some time for Conor, yes.”
asserted
it → think → Conor
The Aporia
.jpg?width=1200&auto=webp&quality=75)
.jpg?width=1200&auto=webp&quality=75)
.jpeg?width=1200&auto=webp&quality=75)
