The Reds’ new £123milion signing was making his first start for the club as they began their latest league phase campaign at Anfield.
asserted
they → make → Anfield
However, Barcola missed a number of chances during the heavyweight showdown on Merseyside and limped off after an hour.
asserted
Barcola → miss → hour
The France international was replaced by fellow summer arrival Victor Munoz having gone down clutching at his left calf in pain.
asserted
international → replace → pain
Here is all the latest Liverpool injury news and potential return dates as attention quickly turns back to the Premier League this weekend and a visit from Fulham, which is promptly followed by a showdown with Tottenham in the Carabao Cup third round.
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which → turn → round
The major talking point of Liverpool’s 2-1 comeback win over Atletico - secured thanks to goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister - was Barcola, who made his first start since that blockbuster late summer transfer from Paris Saint-Germain after coming off the bench for his debut in Friday’s 2-0 top-flight win at Ipswich.
asserted
who → secure → Ipswich
It was a disappointing night for the 24-year-old, who was denied by goalkeeper Jan Oblak before missing the target with a huge opportunity after half-time.
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who → deny → time
Liverpool fans were understandably fearful after seeing him go down clutching his left calf, surrounded by worried team-mates, with Barcola withdrawn on the hour mark.
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Barcola → see → mark
However, Iraola has since confirmed that he was suffering from cramp rather than an injury, meaning he should be fit to be involved against Fulham on Saturday.
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he → confirm → Saturday
"Barcola was just cramp,” Iraola said on Friday.
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Iraola → say → Friday
“We have to evaluate how he is today, but there is no injury.
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he → have → ?
I think he should be available if everything goes normal.”
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everything → think → ?
Potential return date: Saturday September 12, vs Fulham (H)
Cody Gakpo
Liverpool were without Gakpo against Atletico, after Iraola revealed that he suffered adductor issues against Ipswich at Portman Road.
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he → reveal → Road
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However, it is not a serious problem and the Dutch forward - who stayed at Anfield this summer after a late £80m transfer to Manchester City collapsed - could also be back in contention to face Fulham.
"Cody, we will see,” Iraola said on Friday.
uncertain
Iraola → read → Friday
“We will try today and see if he is ready for tomorrow or if we need to wait until the next one.
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we → try → one
"
Potential return date: Saturday September 12, vs Fulham (H) or Tuesday September 15, vs Tottenham (H)
Milos Kerkez
Kerkez started at left-back for Liverpool against Atletico, but endured an evening to forget and was at fault for Marcos Llorente’s early opening goal.
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Kerkez → start → goal
It was a sloppy display from the Hungarian international, who also went down late on and received treatment before being replaced by Kostas Tsimikas.
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who → go → Tsimikas
However, like Barcola, Kerkez was suffering from cramp and should also not need to miss any time at all.
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Kerkez → suffer → time
"Milos and Bradley were just cramping [and] were just tired," Iraola said.
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Iraola → cramp → ?
"I think I always want to do subs because of this, because you've given everything, you don't have any more, perfect.
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you → think → more
"We do the subs, not because you haven't run and I have to sub you.
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I → do → you
So, I prefer when you've done everything you can and then we sub you because you cannot run anymore.
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you → prefer → you
"
Potential return date: Saturday September 12, vs Fulham (H)
Hugo Ekitike
Ekitike has not played for Liverpool since rupturing his Achilles tendon in last season’s Champions League quarter-final second-leg tie against Paris Saint-Germain.
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Ekitike → play → Germain
He underwent surgery in April and missed the World Cup with France, with initial estimates that he would require eight to nine months on the sidelines.
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he → undergo → sidelines
Ekitike has gradually been stepping up his return bid, this week posting footage on Snapchat of him kicking a ball against the wall in an indoor setting.
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him → step → setting
The video was captioned: “Warm-up.”
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video → caption → ?
Iraola has said that he expects the former Eintracht Frankfurt star to return later this year, though it remains difficult to pinpoint exactly when he will be ready.
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he → say → ?
Potential return date: November 2026
Joe Gomez
Gomez is yet to play for Liverpool this term, having suffered an unspecified muscle injury just eight minutes into Iraola’s very first game in charge - the 4-2 win over Sunderland on the club’s pre-season tour of the USA in July.
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Gomez → play → July
The England defender was not ready for the start of the campaign, though Iraola recently said that he expected him to resume team training this week.
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him → say → training
“The closest one is Joe,” Iraola said last week.
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Iraola → say → ?
“Joe will probably start training with us next week and it has gone normally, the recovery, from a muscle injury, more or less we were expecting the time on this.
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we → start → this
I hope we can have him before the break, let’s say.”
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’s → hope → break
Gomez - who has been pictured training - seems unlikely to play any part against Fulham, but Iraola’s latest update could have him on track for involvement against Tottenham or Bournemouth before the extended three-week international break, after which Liverpool host Manchester City.
uncertain
Liverpool → picture → City
Potential return date: Tuesday September 15, vs Tottenham (H) or Sunday September 20, vs Bournemouth (A)
Federico Chiesa
Chiesa was linked with a Liverpool exit again during the summer transfer window and has yet to feature this season due to a back problem sustained in the final friendly against Como.
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Chiesa → link → Como
He should resume training during the international break and be available for selection quickly thereafter, barring any further setbacks.
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He → resume → setbacks
Potential return date: Sunday October 11, vs Manchester City (H)
Conor Bradley
Bradley last played for Liverpool in January, when he suffered a significant knee injury late on against Arsenal that required surgery.
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that → play → surgery
The Northern Ireland right-back has been recovering and rehabbing ever since, with Iraola expecting him to return around a similar time to Ekitike.
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him → recover → Ekitike
Potential return date: November 2026
Giovanni Leoni
Leoni suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while making his Liverpool debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup last September.
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Leoni → suffer → Cup
The teenage defender was expected to miss a full year of football after undergoing surgery, which is what has transpired.
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what → expect → surgery
Iraola recently revealed that Leoni - like Chiesa - should begin working with the team again during the upcoming international break, though he will obviously need more time to regain full fitness.
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he → reveal → fitness
“I think the next one probably should be Giovanni Leoni,” Iraola said.
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Iraola → think → ?
…and 2 more, not listed.
The Aporia
