Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Liverpool supporters are still waiting to find out whether Alexander Isak or Cody Gakpo will be fit in time for their crunch game against Manchester City on Sunday.
Both players were removed early from national team duty, with Isak struggling with a thigh issue and Gakpo nursing an ankle issue following a heavy challenge from Serbia’s Sasa Lukic.
Andoni Iraola has since confirmed that he does not yet know if either player will be ready for the City clash, and while a further update is expected during his pre-match press conference on Friday, Liverpool fans should be ready for news that neither will feature.
Jurgen Klopp was appointed as manager of Liverpool 11 years ago today! What is your favourite memory from the German's time in charge and why?
Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool celebrates with the Champions League Trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League Final between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool
Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images
Can't go wrong with that one💯 love what he did to Barcelona. Although I really loved how he welcomed Slot into the club.
kyle.dimond
So, so many funny moments off the pitch, too hard to pick one. Those Liverpool vs City clashes were often incredible. I wasn’t always his biggest fan but he undeniably made the prem more fun
That 5-4 win against Norwich, Lallana bobbling a volley in and Klopp losing his glasses in the celebration. Class
Given their slight lack of depth in attack already, the absence of his two best forwards this season against City would be a huge blow for Iraola, and would put the spotlight on Bradley Barcola, who is yet to really spark following his £123m move from Paris Saint-Germain.
Without Isak, and with a couple of potential alternatives on the wing, though, Iraola could choose to alter Barcola’s role and put him through the middle, which could in turn help to get a little more from Florian Wirtz.
Barcola can play centrally against Man City
Having failed to sign a back-up centre-forward over the summer, Gakpo is nominally Isak’s understudy until Hugo Ekitike returns to fitness. However, with the Dutchman also out, Iraola can either play Lewis Koumas – which would feel like a big gamble – or put one of his wide men through the middle.
Although Victor Munoz could be a candidate, a smarter solution might be to use Barcola in an inverted left wing role, not quite as an out-and-out striker, but certainly more central than usual, while pushing Wirtz further wide than his regular role. Iraola could then pack his midfield with Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch, countering City’s strength in the middle of the pitch.
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Barcola has played as a central striker before, and has statistically shown a proficiency for it, scoring nine times and laying on two assists in 22 appearances through the middle.
Munoz has an even better record, in fairness, having also played 22 times as a centre-forward. Scoring 10 goals and providing six assists, the Spaniard is potentially the next-best option if Isak and Gakpo cannot play.
However, the need to get the most out of Wirtz comes into play here. By removing him from a central position and getting him closer to Barcola, Liverpool will get their two biggest attacking weapons within touching distance of each other while also negating what has become a weakness which City could exploit.
Barcola needs a moment to step out of the shadows following his big-money move, and given all the circumstances around this game, this feels like the match for him to step up. Isak missing will help nobody, but it could give Barcola a little bit more freedom to drift infield and take up the mantle of being Liverpool’s star man. It could suit him.
Barcola has a good record against City
It may seem inconsequential to a degree, but it is also worth noting that Barcola has a goal and an assist in his only appearance against Man City during his career. Putting the spotlight on him as Liverpool’s centre-forward against them this time might not be a bad idea.
He was brilliant as PSG beat Pep Guardiola’s team 4-2 in January 2025, magnificently assisting Ousmane Dembele with a trademark sprint down the left after City had raced into a two-goal lead, before scoring a tap-in himself from a central position.
While that may be an indicator of nothing at all, it would be helpful if Barcola could draw on his previous experience against Sunday’s opponents and channel it into his performance at Anfield.
One of the most interesting things about Iraola’s line-ups this season is that it has been impossible to predict who he will play in the wide attacking areas. But having tried Barcola on the left and right to little avail so far, Isak’s potential absence should see another change of plan, with the Frenchman finally ready to make his mark at Liverpool.