The latest Liverpool injury news ahead of their games against LASK and Brentford - including updates on Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Liverpool’s hopes of bouncing back from Sunday’s disappointing 3-0 loss to Manchester City, the first defeat of the Andoni Iraola era, may rest on the fitness of a number of key players who missed the match at Anfield – Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai were all absent and remain doubts for the upcoming fixtures against LASK and Brentford.
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While Isak and Gakpo were expected to miss the game against the league leaders, Szoboszlai’s injury came as an unpleasant surprise and Iraola now faces an anxious wait to find out whether he will have any of his injured stars back in time for Wednesday’s Champions League tie or next Saturday’s trip to the capital.
In total, as many as six first-team players could miss this week’s games. With kick-off against LASK fast approaching, we’ve collected all of the latest Liverpool injury news and updates below, along with the stricken players’ expected return dates when available.
When will Isak be back for Liverpool?
Alexander Isak could be back in time to play Brentford this weekendplaceholder image
Alexander Isak could be back in time to play Brentford this weekend | AFP via Getty Images
Prior to Sunday’s game against Manchester City, Liverpool had withheld the news that midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai was an injury concern and the Hungarian’s absence was only made public when the teamsheets were released.
Iraola told the media before the game that Szoboszlai had a “tight hamstring” as a result of an “overload” of work during the international break, and that while he had trained in full during the week the decision had been made to rest him rather than risk doing any further damage.
Szoboszlai is not expected to be out for a long time and could be available to face LASK, although he may not make the trip to Austria in order to keep him fit for the away game against Brentford on Saturday.
Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo are in a similar situation. The pair sustained respective hamstring and ankle injuries while on international duty but aren’t expected to be sidelined for an extended period despite being left out of the matchday squad this weekend. Neither is expected to face LASK, but they could both be back in time to play against Brentford.
Leoni on comeback trail for Liverpool
Giovanni Leoni is inching towards his comeback from an ACL injuryplaceholder image
Giovanni Leoni is inching towards his comeback from an ACL injury | Getty Images
There is further good news about the status of young centre-back Giovanni Leoni, who hasn’t played for over a year due to a ruptured ACL sustained on his Liverpool debut last September.
The 19-year-old is scheduled to return to full training this week, according to The Athletic, and while no target has been set for his return to the matchday squad, he could be available by the end of the month barring further setbacks.
Liverpool are not expected to rush Leoni back to action and he will likely be eased back towards match fitness with some playing time for the Under-21s side. This week’s EFL Trophy game against Doncaster Rovers will, however, come too soon.
Two other long-term injury victims face a lengthier wait to make their comebacks: Right-back Conor Bradley (knee) is expected to be in contention by the end of November, while striker Hugo Ekitiké (calf) is pencilled in for a December return. No fixed dates have been set for either player.