The latest Liverpool injury and team news ahead of the big Premier League match at home to Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Alexander Isak of Liverpool celebrating after scoring the opening goal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at Vitality Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Alexander Isak celebrates his winner for Liverpool at Bournemouth (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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The Premier League returns this weekend after a three-week international break with the undoubted standout game of matchday six coming at Anfield on Sunday as Liverpool take on Manchester City (4.30pm kick-off). That was always going to be the case.
But extra significance has been piled on the Sky Sports-live clash after City were found guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules over a nine-season period.
Given their long-time rivalry with Liverpool, the Etihad Stadium outfit are sure to encounter a hostile atmosphere. And given the injury concerns Andoni Iraola currently has, the Reds could well need their supporters more than ever.
READ MORE: Liverpool finances could be just about to boom as Man City verdict has rivals floored
Iraola went into the international break without four first-team players. But now he has concerns over three more after Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Jeremy Jacquet all picked up problems while away with their countries.
So ahead of the massive match against Man City, the ECHO takes a look at the Liverpool injury latest...
Alexander Isak
Isak was the Reds' match-winner at Bournemouth before the international break as his fourth goal of the Premier League season sealed a 1-0 triumph. He then took that form into the international arena as he opened the scoring in Sweden's 2-1 home win over Romania in the Nations League.
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However, he was forced to return to the AXA Training Centre after sustaining a thigh injury. Sweden boss Graham Potter said: “He’s got a small problem with his thigh. It’s not a big one but because of the amount of games we’ve got in a small space of time, he won’t be able to make those.
“It was during the game. Like anything, you sometimes get bumps and bruises in the game, you might think it’s a bit of a dead leg or something. But actually as the 24 hours, 48 hours after the game, not quite what you think. Unfortunately after getting it checked out, it’s a little bit more than what you think during the match. He has to miss the rest of the camp.”
Iraola will give an update on Isak later this week but the fact that the club has called the issue 'minor' suggests he should be in contention for this weekend.
Potential return date: Manchester City (H), Sunday, October 11
Cody Gakpo
Another forward who is in fantastic form for club and country is Gakpo, whose last-gasp goal denied a first win as Germany manager for Jurgen Klopp.
But in his next Netherlands match, Gakpo sustained an ankle injury after being the victim of a strong challenge from Serbia and Ipswich Town midfielder Sasa Lukic
New Netherlands head coach Xabi said afterwards that he was hopeful the Liverpool man had avoided a serious injury, but Dutch journalist Rik Elfrink took to X (formerly Twitter) to say he will be out for "several weeks".
Iraola should reveal how true that is in the coming days.
Potential return date: Unknown
Cody Gakpo of Netherlands talks to referee Szymon Marciniak during the UEFA Nations League match between Serbia and Netherlands
Cody Gakpo is an injury doubt for Liverpool against Manchester City(Image: Dijks Media/MB Media/Getty Images)
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Jeremy Jacquet
Liverpool are waiting to discover the extent of the fitness issue for Jacquet that forced him to miss France's Nations League clash with Belgium on Monday evening.
The centre-back was absent from the 4-1 win with the French Football Federation releasing a statement declaring the centre-back had suffered a "strain to his left hamstring".
But new France boss Zinedine Zidane said afterwards that Jacquet, who has excelled in his debut campaign in England so far, was only "slightly injured" and the fact that he was spotted smiling when celebrating on the pitch after the game suggested he could well be fit for Sunday.
Potential return date: Manchester City (H), Sunday, October 11
Giovanni Leoni
Along with Jacquet, Leoni represents the future of the Reds' defence. And it seems like they could soon get the chance to play together given the latter is closing in a return to full training after being sidelined for more than a year with the anterior cruciate ligament injury he sustained on his debut for the club.
It is hoped the Italian could be back part of the main group by the middle of this month. Of course, having been out injured for so long makes it unlikely he will immediately be considered for selection.
But given the amount of matches Liverpool play before the next international break, he could well be targeting a place in the matchday squad in one of them if given the green light.
Potential return date: Chelsea (H), Wednesday, October 28
Liverpool defender Giovanni Leoni has been out for a year with an ACL injury
Liverpool defender Giovanni Leoni has been out for a year with an ACL injury(Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
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Hugo Ekitike
The second of the Reds' three long-term injury victims, Ekitike has not played since rupturing his Achilles tendon against his former club Paris Saint-Germain in April.
But according to L'Equipe, the hard work the striker is putting in behind the scenes could see him return to training next month.
And it is believed that Ekitike's long-term target has been to get back into action by Boxing Day, which given the serious nature of the injury he sustained, would be remarkably swift progress.
Potential return date: Hull City (A), Saturday, December 26
Federico Chiesa
One attacker who should be back before then is Chiesa, who has yet to kick a ball this season.
However, with Iraola having said the Italian should have returned to training around the international break, it would appear he appears set to give the new Liverpool boss a forward selection boost amid concerns over Gakpo, particularly, and Isak.
Potential return date: Manchester City (H), Sunday, October 11
Where do you think Liverpool will finish this season?
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 2: Liverpool FC Head Coach Andoni Iraola concentrates after the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field on August 2, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Liverpool's new head coach Andoni Iraola, pictured on the club's tour of the US(Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Conor Bradley
Of all the players on this list, Bradley still feels the furthest away, with Iraola saying last month: "I think he is not close to training with the team. 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."
The right-back suffered an ACL injury back in January at Arsenal and his Northern Ireland manager, Michael O'Neill, also said last month that he didn't expect Bradley to be available for November's international matches.
Potential return date: Unknown
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