Liverpool will be without a number of players for their Premier League clash with Manchester City on Sunday afternoon, with several key men missing from training ahead of the crucial fixture
Andoni Iraola will be without several key players for Sunday's game
Andoni Iraola will be without several key players for Sunday's game
Liverpool return to Premier League duties following the international break when they welcome table-toppers Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.
And the Reds have already learnt which players will be available for City's opening fixture since being found guilty of 114 charges relating to Premier League financial rule violations across a nine-year span.
Liverpool's principal absentees are in-form attackers Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo. Isak cut short his Sweden international commitments a fortnight ago after picking up a thigh injury, while Gakpo sustained an ankle problem while representing the Netherlands.
Both have been undergoing rehabilitation at the AXA Training Centre but remain unavailable, having been absent from Thursday's training session.
Three additional Liverpool players are confirmed to miss the fixture as they continue their recoveries from long-term injuries, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Striker Hugo Ekitike faces an uphill struggle to feature again this calendar year after suffering a significant Achilles injury in early April, while right-back Conor Bradley continues his rehabilitation from the substantial knee injury he picked up at Arsenal in early January.
Alexander Isak of Liverpool during the Premier League 2026/27 match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC
Alexander Isak isn't available for Liverpool's clash with Manchester City(Image: (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images))
Centre-back Giovanni Leoni is moving closer to rejoining first-team training after being sidelined since last September with an ACL injury, but remains unavailable for selection.
City will certainly be without Phil Foden, who is completing a suspension following his dismissal in the 1-0 derby triumph at Manchester United last month.
Concerns remain regarding Antoine Semenyo, who is carrying an ankle problem, while Nico O'Reilly had to pull out of England's latest international squad due to a minor injury.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Iraola confirmed the worst for Isak and Gakpo, saying: "Alex Isak and Cody Gakpo will not play the game. They are not ready.
"Unfortunately for us, both got injuries during the international break. As a club manager, you are always waiting until the games end, that the doctor doesn't call you and then gives you bad news.
"But in this case we've been unlucky with Alex and Cody – both of them are injured and they are not going to be involved on Sunday.