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Story summary
Liverpool faces Manchester City in a crucial Premier League match at Anfield on Sunday. Liverpool's manager Andoni Iraola confirmed that forwards Cody Gakpo and Mohamad Isak returned from international duty with injuries to their ankle and thigh, respectively. Both players are unlikely to play due to these injuries. Additionally, Hugo Ekitike remains out long-term, leaving the club without its three main center-forwards. The £123 million summer signing Bradley Barcola may be deployed as a makeshift striker despite being more comfortable on the left wing. Iraola highlighted Barcola’s versatility and value to the team, stating that he can play in multiple attacking positions. Despite these challenges, Liverpool must find creative solutions for their upcoming match against Man City.
Written for “Liverpool Man City Match-Up” on 2026-10-11,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Isak and Gakpo each returned from international duty early with respective thigh and ankle injuries, which could lead to a new role in the attack for headline summer signing Bradley Barcola at Anfield on Sunday.
uncertain
which → return → Sunday
“Cody has an ankle injury and it is a matter of him dealing with the pain,” Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola confirmed at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
asserted
Iraola → have → Friday
"He is doing things individually.
asserted
He → do → things
Alex has a thigh injury, it is a small injury but a muscle injury.
asserted
it → have → injury
"They don't look like long-term [injuries].
asserted
They → look → injuries
We will be analysing day-to-day."
asserted
We → analyse → day
With Isak and Gakpo ruled out, along with long-term injury absentee Hugo Ekitike, it means all three of Liverpool’s natural centre-forwards will be unavailable for selection against Man City.
asserted
three → rule → City
Therefore, Iraola will have to get creative.
asserted
Iraola → have → ?
Youngster Lewis Koumas has been nameddropped by the Reds boss, though a lack of Premier League experience is likely to be a deciding factor.
asserted
lack → nameddroppe → experience
That leaves the options of using Florian Wirtz as a false nine, or having Barcola - far more comfortable on the left-wing - operate through the middle.
asserted
Barcola → leave → middle
"He is a top player for us, he can play in any position up front, probably has played more as a left winger, but has played a little bit as a striker, even more as a right winger, so he can cover three positions up front and is a super valuable player for us,” Iraola said of the £123million summer signing from Paris Saint-Germain.
asserted
Iraola → play → Germain
Alternatively, pushing Wirtz further forward would allow Dominik Szoboszlai to regain his favoured No10 role - perhaps recreating the double false nine tactic adopted by Arne Slot in a 2-0 win over Man City during the 2024/25 title-winning campaign.
asserted
Szoboszlai → push → campaign
The good news for Liverpool is that Jacquet has shaken off a hamstring strain which forced him to miss France’s final Nations League game, meaning Iraola can keep faith in a back five that has kept three Premier League clean sheets in a row.
asserted
that → shake → row
Federico Chiesa could make a matchday squad for the first time this season after a back issue but the Man City game comes too soon for Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni, though the latter is expected to resume full training imminently.
uncertain
latter → make → training
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