Liverpool's upcoming match against Manchester City could see them without key players Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo, and Jeremy Jacquet due to injuries sustained during international duty. Isak has a thigh injury, while Gakpo faces an ankle issue after getting tackled during a Netherlands game. Jacquet is dealing with a hamstring strain. Leoni, who ruptured his ACL on his Liverpool debut last year, is expected to return to full training from October 12, shortly after the Manchester City match.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
With a must-win meeting with league-leading Manchester City on the cards this weekend, the Reds could be without the likes of Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Jeremy Jacquet after the trio picked up issues on international duty.
uncertain
trio → win → duty
It is not all bad news, though, with some returnees mooted in the near future, including some long-term absentees.
asserted
returnees → moot → absentees
Alexander Isak
Alexander Isak was forced to leave Sweden’s camp early after picking up a thigh injury.
asserted
Isak → force → 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.
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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: 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.
asserted
Gakpo → score → 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.
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he → last → half
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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.
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injury → read → player
He has now returned to Liverpool early for assessment.
asserted
He → return → assessment
The French Football Federation (FFF) have since announced the defender was suffering from “strain to his left hamstring” and could now be a doubt to face Man City on Sunday.
uncertain
defender → announce → Sunday
Iraola will be expected to provide an update later in the week, with Jacquet already establishing himself alongside Virgil van Dijk for Liverpool this season.
asserted
Jacquet → expect → Liverpool
Potential return date: October 11 vs Man City (H)
Giovanni Leoni
Leoni was the victim of dreadful luck as he suffered a ruptured ACL on his Liverpool debut, subsequently missing a full year of action after undergoing surgery.
asserted
he → suffer → surgery
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: October 27 vs Chelsea (H)
Federico Chiesa
Federico Chiesa also has 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: 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 → year
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 2026
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 earlier this season, 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
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