Liverpool have started the 2026-27 season without several players because of injury, leaving Andoni Iraola with a number of absentees to manage during the opening weeks of the campaign.
Hugo Ekitike remains sidelined with the Achilles injury he suffered last season, while Giovanni Leoni continues his recovery from a serious knee problem.
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Conor Bradley is also unavailable after his own injury setback, with Joe Gomez among the other players still working towards a return.
The number of absences has increased the importance of Liverpool’s available options, particularly with the club also assessing the futures of several players before the transfer window closes.
One player who can now put another injury setback behind him is Kaide Gordon, who has returned to training with the Liverpool Under-21s after being sidelined since December.
Gordon tore his meniscus in December and subsequently underwent a lengthy rehabilitation programme. His return to training represents a significant step forward after the injury interrupted his preparations and ruled him out of the second half of last season.
The 21-year-old is now back working with the Under-21s as he builds up his fitness and looks to regain his match sharpness.
According to The Athletic’s James Pearce, Kaide Gordon will be among the players Liverpool consider for a move in the coming days. Both a loan and a permanent transfer are options being considered for the winger.
Gordon’s contract situation adds further importance to the decision. His current deal expires next summer, meaning Liverpool must determine whether to keep him for the final year of his contract or allow him to leave during the current window.
The winger signed a contract extension in May 2024 after making his breakthrough into the first-team setup. He became Liverpool’s youngest FA Cup goalscorer when he found the net against Shrewsbury Town in January 2022.
However, injuries have repeatedly disrupted his development since that breakthrough. Loan spells with Norwich City and Portsmouth also failed to provide the consistent run of football Gordon would have hoped for.
His latest setback came just as he was looking to build momentum again, making his return to training particularly important.
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