Liverpool travel to Bournemouth on Sunday as the Reds look to get back to winning ways in the Premier League, but Andoni Iraola will be without key players
Andoni Iraola looks on
Andoni Iraola has several injury concerns in his squad(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Liverpool head to Bournemouth on Sunday as Reds boss Andoni Iraola prepares to come up against his former club. Iraola's side remain unbeaten across all competitions so far this season.
The Reds defeated Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 in the League Cup on Tuesday, following last Saturday's frustrating 0-0 stalemate at home to Fulham. Liverpool find themselves eighth in the Premier League table after four matches and will be eager to head into the extended international break on the back of a positive result.
Iraola will still be without several key players for this weekend's trip to the South Coast. Hugo Ekitike continues his recovery from an Achilles injury sustained in April and remains several months away from a comeback.
Giovanni Leoni, meanwhile, is in the closing stages of his rehabilitation from an ACL injury suffered on his Carabao Cup debut back in September last year. Fellow defender Conor Bradley picked up an ACL injury in January during a goalless stalemate with Arsenal and is also still working his way back to fitness.
No timeframe has been provided regarding when Liverpool expect the Northern Ireland international to return to training.
Elsewhere, Federico Chiesa is yet to make an appearance for Liverpool after sustaining an injury towards the end of pre-season. Iraola confirmed at his pre-match press conference that the Italy international remains unavailable for the clash with Bournemouth, with no firm timeline yet established for his return.
Federico Chiesa of Liverpool during the during the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco
Federico Chiesa has been out of action for Liverpool with an injury(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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On the Bournemouth side, Julian Araujo is sidelined with a thigh injury and is not expected back until at least November. Eli Kroupi has been handed the same return date, having picked up an ankle problem.
Meanwhile, Amine Adli is nursing a calf injury, while Veljko Milosavljevic will also sit out the fixture due to a knee problem. Both players are pencilled in for an October comeback.
When quizzed about heading back to his former club, Iraola said: "I think we have it (freshness). This time we play two days before they so there is an advantage there but I know where we are going, I know their staff and their stadium there.
"Long while, you realise how difficult it is to beat Bournemouth. They know me and I know them.
"It's going to be in the personal side, I am looking forward to it, players I love, staff I appreciate so much.
"I was buzzing for them so much in their first European game yesterday, but we need to go there and win. Be as ruthless as possible, leave the talks until after the game.
"They haven't changed too much in terms of names, same XI, few changes. Lost Senesi, signed Silva, similar. The main ideas are still there, I talk to Marco Rose and they haven't changed too much. Dangerous team."