Liverpool injury latest and possible return dates including Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni with Andoni Iraola set for a couple of boosts during the international break
Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley is nursing a long-term knee injury
Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley is nursing a long-term knee injury(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool will hope that its players can return from the international break free from injury, but there is always a risk — especially with so many matches this time around.
Some of Andoni Iraola's key men will play four games for their national teams in the next two weeks, with the September and October international breaks merged into one.
Virgil van Dijk has decided to carry on playing for the Dutch national side, for instance, while there are around 15 players who will be in action in total. Jurgen Klopp has at least given Liverpool a boost by only calling up Florian Wirtz for the second two games.
Elsewhere, the Reds are set to have a couple more players available following the break. Federico Chiesa should return to training, and Giovanni Leoni is closing in on a comeback too.
Chiesa has had a minor injury that has kept him out for a few weeks. Leoni injured his ACL a year ago today and is still on the comeback trail, but should be back in team training soon.
"I think the plan is also to start training during the break with the group," Iraola said earlier this month when he was asked for the latest update on Leoni.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has a few injury concerns right now
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has a few injury concerns right now(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
The only other two players who are missing at the moment are Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike.
"I think (Bradley) is not close to training with the team," Iraola said recently. "He’s training alone, but he has started touching the ball.
"Definitely, I want him as quick as possible ready, but it’s a long-term injury. I think Leoni is a little bit ahead of him, and still it’s going to take some time for Conor, yes."
Ekitike will not be back until after Christmas, but he has been named in Liverpool's Champions League squad because he could play again during January.
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"There is a chance he could help us with the last two games of the (Champions League) group stage, but it is still very early to say," Iraola said before the goalless draw with Fulham.
Liverpool returns to action on October 11 with the visit of Manchester City to Anfield. It faces each of the current top four sides in the Premier League next (also including Brighton, Brentford and Arsenal).
Liverpool.com says: So far this season, the Reds have done alright when it comes to injuries. Time will tell if that continues as the schedule ramps up, with a couple of positions in the roster really light in numbers if problems start to arise.