Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola has challenged his squad to step up in the absence of injured forwards Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with Manchester City at Anfield
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Bradley Barcola, Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak of Liverpool line up ahead of the Premier League 2026/27 match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at Vitality Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak have been ruled out of Liverpool's game against Manchester City(Image: Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola has expressed confidence in his Liverpool squad to rise to the occasion in the absence of Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak when Manchester City visits on Sunday.
The Reds head coach also outlined his intentions to make his defensively-resolute side more of an attacking threat, following a thorough review of results and performances during the international break.
Isak leads the scoring charts with four goals, all of which have been created by the impressive Gakpo, who has netted twice himself, with the duo having contributed to eight of Liverpool's 12 goals so far this season. However, both strikers have been ruled out of Sunday's Anfield showdown through injury.
Gakpo sustained an ankle injury in a challenge with Ipswich Town's Sasa Lukic as the Netherlands defeated Serbia 2-1 during the international break, while Swedish forward Isak suffered a thigh complaint following a match against Romania in which he found the net.
Iraola acknowledges the timing of the injuries is far from ideal, yet he has called upon the remainder of his squad to deliver when Enzo Maresca's unbeaten league leaders make the trip to Merseyside, reports the Liverpool Echo.
"It's definitely not something I wanted from this international break but we can't control it," Iraola said. "It is what it is. We can't change it so we have to adapt.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 08: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Andoni Iraola, Head Coach of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on October 08, 2026 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Nikki Dyer/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola has issued a challenge to his Liverpool players
"It's a bad thing for us, definitely, because both of them have been prolific forwards at the start of the season but the good thing when you coach Liverpool is you still have very good players available.
"I trust the players we have ready to go. It's also a good moment for those players to step up, to add good numbers and good performances while we recover Cody and Alex."
When asked to reflect on the Reds' performances so far this season during the international break, Iraola, whose team recorded three consecutive clean sheets for the first time in two years before the pause, said: "They've been different games.
"Probably the first games we played were a little bit more open. I think we improved that side and controlled the other games better.
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"Defensively we have been much better but it has taken a little bit from our offensive side, it has taken a little bit of our arrivals, the volume of them offensively.
"Now is the moment when you think: 'OK, let's keep this defensive solidity, stay comfortable defending and not giving a lot of chances away'.
"But it's difficult. Ronald Araujo is the clearest example. You change him in and probably you are more solid at the back but you lose a bit of threat going forward.
"We want to balance it a little bit, use all of the squad and take the right decisions for games that are going to be very different from one to the other."