Liverpool hope to welcome back at least one player from injury this week. While Hugo Ekitike remains sidelined for the longer term, there are positive signs that Joe Gomez could return against Ipswich this weekend.
Federico Chiesa is also recovering from a muscle injury but is not expected to be far behind. Liverpool’s first two games of the season have both ended 2-2, despite Andoni Iraola’s side enjoying 60% possession against Newcastle and 70% against Nottingham Forest.
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On both occasions, Liverpool fell behind and are yet to lead in the Premier League this season. Iraola’s first home league game was watched by incoming vice-chairman Amit Bhatia, principal owner John Henry and sporting director Richard Hughes.
With a new manager, a new system and several new faces leading a new era at Anfield, patience was always going to be required this season.
Iraola says he was frustrated at being prevented from making a triple substitution sooner during Saturday’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Nottingham Forest.
“With the penalty, the situation has already finished when the contact appears. And it’s not an aggressive contact,” Iraola told BBC Match of the Day.
“But more than this we complained about the subs. We had to wait about three minutes. He was having an issue with the board, I don’t know if it was not working, but we definitely wanted to do the subs the last two or three stoppages before the goal. It wasn’t just that reason but everything helps.”
Speaking to TNT Sports, he added: “A professional fourth official cannot take three minutes. We’d already given him the subs two or three minutes before.
“I was already angry because in the previous stoppage we couldn’t make the subs and then before throw-in I thought we could do it. “I don’t know, they will have to explain it. But it has taken ages.”
The Reds travel to Ipswich Town on Friday evening, with preparations for the trip to Portman Road continuing on Tuesday. Elsewhere, Liverpool’s Premier League home game against Brighton & Hove Albion in October has been rescheduled.
Originally set for Saturday, October 24, the match will now take place on Sunday, October 25, with a 2pm GMT kick-off.
Sky Sports will show the fixture live in the UK. The change follows Brighton’s qualification for the UEFA Conference League league phase.
Our @premierleague game at home to Brighton & Hove Albion in October has been rescheduled ℹ️ pic.twitter.com/VrXHjW8ARB
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 1, 2026
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