Liverpool could be without several key players against Brentford on Saturday, with Andoni Iraola providing the latest squad updates ahead of the Premier League clash
Giovanni Leoni of Liverpool in action during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Southampton
Andoni Iraola provided an update on Giovanni Leoni's recovery(Image: (Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar Via Getty Images))
Liverpool maintained its perfect start in the Champions League with a 6-3 victory over LASK in Austria on Tuesday evening.
Bradley Barcola scored a hat-trick, while Ronald Araujo, Jeremy Frimpong and Lewis Koumas also got on the scoresheet. Liverpool will now turn their attention back to the Premier League as they look to bounce back from last weekend’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.
Ryan Gravenberch’s controversial sending-off means Andoni Iraola will be without another midfield option, while Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai remain doubts for the trip to the Gtech Community Stadium. The first two were forced to withdraw from their respective national team squads, while the third returned with a heavy workload and a tight hamstring.
Here is the latest on the injury front for Liverpool ahead of Saturday's game.
Cody Gakpo
Gakpo was forced to return home early from international duty after sustaining an ankle injury during the Netherlands’ second game of the break against Serbia.
The winger has enjoyed an improved campaign compared to last season, rediscovering the quality he had shown in previous years. He has registered one goal and three assists in the Premier League so far, while beginning to develop a promising partnership with Isak in Liverpool’s frontline.
However, Iraola determined it was too early to tell whether Gakpo, along with Isak and Szoboszlai, will be available on Saturday. "It's early for us to say [on injury returns]," he said in his pre-match press conference. "We have tomorrow in training, they weren't ready last night [against LASK]. We have to wait and see. I leave the chance open…”
Possible return date: October 20 vs. Villarreal
Dominik Szoboszlai
Szoboszlai's absence was a blow for Liverpool ahead of their defeat to Manchester City, with the midfielder having played almost every minute for Hungary during the international break, returning with a minor hamstring injury.
The 25-year-old has taken on greater responsibility in Liverpool's attack this season, scoring once in the Premier League, but the balance in midfield has not always been right. Szoboszlai has also emerged as a leader within the squad.
With Gravenberch suspended and the Reds playing roughly every three days, Iraola will be hopeful of his return. He added: "Early but like I said they were not ready for previous games, I leave the chance open. Nyoni for Gravenberch? In this period especially, playing every three days, you need more players and that is why we change yesterday. We need to change Brentford and then Villarreal too. We need everyone, they need to be ready."
Possible return date: October 20 vs. Villarreal
Alexander Isak
Isak's thigh injury has been described as "minor," raising hopes that the striker could return to action sooner rather than later.
Alexander Isak of Liverpool during the Premier League 2026/27 match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC
Alexander Isak could remain unavailable for Brentford(Image: (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images))
The 27-year-old has made an encouraging start to life under the new manager, scoring four goals in five appearances. That already surpasses the three goals he managed last season under Arne Slot, with the forward showing signs of justifying the significant fee Liverpool paid to secure his services.
Should he remain unavailable, Koumas will more than likely retain his place in the starting XI, having scored the Reds' last goal of the evening against LASK. "He deserves the minutes," Iraola said when asked about the youngster. "We are using him more because Isak is injured but if I wasn't comfortable then I have other options.
"He knows he is ready to learn and be the best player he can be. He had a lovely moment yesterday, two goals disallowed and finally score the third one. A lovely moment for him."
Possible return date: October 20 vs. Villarreal
Giovanni Leoni
Iraola also provided an update on Giovanni Leoni, who has been sidelined for more than a year after suffering an ACL injury. The young Italian had been targeting a return this month, but the Liverpool boss has now outlined a revised timeline for his comeback.
"It's taking more time than we wanted," Iraola said. "With Leo, the plan was to train in the international break but it will be the next one, so we have lost one month of progress.
"It was not just an ACL, it was a bad injury, a lot of areas around the knee. That process has to be very careful and we want to be careful when he returns to the team he stays in a good place. So the plan now is he starts in the next break. Later than we expected."
Possible return date: November
Conor Bradley
Conor Bradley is expected to return later than Leoni, although the Liverpool right-back could still be edging closer to a comeback.
Bradley has been sidelined since suffering a serious knee injury against Arsenal in January. Initial suggestions that he could feature at the World Cup if Northern Ireland qualified now appear unlikely to materialize.
The defender is not expected to resume training until next month at the earliest, with a return to first-team action potentially following soon after. However, Liverpool are likely to take a cautious approach given his injury history.
Possible return date: November/December
Hugo Ekitike
Hugo Ekitike is on course to return before the end of the year, with the striker reportedly targeting a comeback around Christmas.
There has been further encouragement during the international break, with reports in France suggesting Ekitike could resume training as early as next month. If his recovery continues to progress, Liverpool's Boxing Day trip to Hull could provide an opportunity for the forward to return to action.
That would represent a significant boost given the initial concerns following his Achilles rupture.
Possible return date: December