Liverpool’s injury worries deepened over the international break as confirmation arrived that Cody Gakpo will undergo a scan on Monday, as per The Athletic, to determine the extent of an ankle injury picked up during the Netherlands’ 2-1 win over Serbia in the Nations League.
The forward had to be withdrawn in the 17th minute in Belgrade after a challenge from Sasa Lukic left him in visible discomfort, initially attempting to continue before signalling to the bench that he could not carry on.
Speaking after the match, Netherlands head coach Xavi offered a cautiously optimistic assessment, telling reporters he did not believe the injury was serious, adding that while it was his ankle causing the issue, clarity would only come the following day once further checks had taken place.
That uncertainty means Liverpool will now have to wait until early in the new week for a clearer picture of how long Gakpo might be out for.
The timing could hardly be worse for Andoni Iraola, given the news broke on the same day Alexander Isak was forced to withdraw from the Sweden squad.
The striker picked up a thigh problem that ruled him out of Sweden’s remaining fixtures, with head coach Graham Potter explaining that while the issue itself was not considered major, the congested nature of the upcoming schedule meant Isak simply could not risk playing through it.
Isak, who had scored in Sweden’s win over Romania just two days earlier, has since returned to Merseyside to be assessed by Liverpool’s own medical staff.
Between the two setbacks, Iraola now faces the prospect of assessing his attacking options without any real clarity on either player’s timeline, a frustrating position given how influential both have been for Liverpool so far this season.
Gakpo in particular has enjoyed an excellent run of form, contributing two goals and four assists in six appearances for the club, on top of scoring the Netherlands’ equaliser in their opening Nations League draw with Germany last Thursday.
There was at least some consolation for the Dutch, who secured victory over Serbia despite Gakpo’s early withdrawal, with a double from AZ Alkmaar forward Mexx Meerdink proving decisive in a 2-1 win.
For Liverpool, the coming days will be about patience as much as planning. Monday’s scan on Gakpo should provide the first real indication of whether his issue is a minor knock or something more significant, while Isak’s own recovery will be monitored closely at the club’s training base.
With a congested fixture list awaiting on the other side of the international break, Iraola will be hoping for encouraging news on both fronts, though until the results of Gakpo’s scan are known, doubt will understandably linger among supporters over just how much of an impact this international window has had on Liverpool’s attacking depth heading into October.
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