Liverpool faces some important games after the international break, with head coach Andoni Iraola left to sweat over some potential injury absences during that time
Andoni Iraola, Manager of Liverpool, reacts during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Fulham
Andoni Iraola faces some injury doubts for Liverpool(Image: (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images))
Liverpool's positive start to the season has seen the side reach the first international break of the season unbeaten, even with some mixed performances along the way.
The extended three-week break gives Andoni Iraola some time to reflect on the first few months in charge, while looking ahead to some important games in the weeks ahead. If the head coach thought the opening months were fast-paced, then the return from the international break will only ramp things up further, with nine fixtures coming Liverpool's way across all competitions before the next break in November.
There will be some tough matches coming up, which will require the whole squad to chip in with important moments. That may be even more crucial now, with injury concerns for Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak leaving Iraola sweating over the fitness of two key stars, on top of the other absences.
So, with that said, here's a look at Liverpool's next nine games before the next international break, broken down by competition.
Premier League
Manchester City (H) — October 11
Brentford (A) — October 17
Brighton (H) — October 25
Arsenal (H) — November 1
Crystal Palace (A) — November 8
There are five Premier League games for Liverpool between the return from the international break and the next one in November. The matches start to ramp up in difficulty for Iraola, with a run that will truly test the manager.
Clashes with Manchester City and Arsenal will test the team's ability against title contenders and will see whether the side can compete against those sides. It's the sort of fixtures that the Reds haven't faced so far, giving them a slightly different challenge to see how competitive they can be.
Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola celebrate during Bournemouth 0-1 Liverpool
Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola celebrate during Bournemouth 0-1 Liverpool(Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Between those two gargantuan matches are clashes with Brentford and Brighton, two of the three 'B' teams in the Premier League that have consistently punched above their weight to cause problems for other sides in the division. Given how well both are coached, it will be yet another huge test of Iraola.
That run of five is then finished off with a trip to Crystal Palace, which has had a slow start to the campaign so far under new boss Pierre Sage, though fortunes may change by that point. While all five games look tricky, three of them are at home, where Liverpool will hope to stamp some authority and win a few big matches to truly show the players can compete at the top.
Champions League
LASK (A) — October 14
Villarreal (H) — October 20
Fenerbahce (A) — November 4
After winning the opening match of the Champions League campaign against Atletico Madrid, the European adventure ramps up in October and November. Liverpool will be looking to register a few more wins to truly climb up the league table, with LASK first up offering an opportunity to do just that.
Villarreal at home is another match that the Reds will expect to win, despite the opposition's strength, before a tricky trip to Turkiye against Fenerbahce. Considering the challenges that the side faced with Galatasaray last season, it could be a difficult encounter. With two away games out of three, there will be plenty of traveling that could impact the players, but there will be some hope that Iraola can pick up another nine points in the Champions League by the time the next international break comes around.
EFL Cup
Chelsea (H) — October 28
Stuck between all of the league and European action is an EFL Cup meeting for Liverpool, as an intriguing tie with Chelsea awaits on Merseyside. The Reds haven't had it easy with the cup draw so far, having to get beyond Tottenham in the previous round, with the Blues offering another tough challenge.
It's unclear whether Iraola may need to rotate for such a game, while Xabi Alonso has the luxury of fewer games, which could see a strong team put out for the match.