Liverpool's long-term injury absentees are slowly starting to close in on their respective returns to training
Andoni Iraola looks on prior to the Premier League 2026/27 match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Selhurst Park
Andoni Iraola looks on prior to the Premier League 2026/27 match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Selhurst Park (Image: 2026 Steve Bardens - AMA)
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Andoni Iraola has not yet been able to call upon a full squad even in training after taking over as Liverpool head coach in the summer. Given the ranks he inherited contained three long-term absentees in the form of Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike, that is not a surprise.
“Touch wood we are in a better place in two weeks,” the Basque said following Liverpool’s victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Admittedly, Iraola was likely referring to the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai, who suffered a knee injury against the Eagles, and Virgil van Dijk, who has since withdrawn from the Netherlands squad with a minor injury, in hope they would be in better health when club football resumes.
But with domestic football now paused for the November international break and English football’s festive period slowly coming into sight over the horizon, the Reds’ three long term absentees are actually now on the final straight when it comes to their lengthy rehabilitations.
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Leoni has been sidelined since suffering an ACL injury on his debut against Southampton back in September 2025.
It had been hoped that the young Italian would return to team training after the expanded September/October international break this year, but Iraola has since confirmed that the centre-back’s return had been delayed with November now the target in mind for his return to training.
“It’s taking more time than we wanted,” Iraola admitted last month. “The planning was to train with the team in this past international break (but) probably it’s going to be in the next international break, so we’ve lost one month in the process.
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“Giovanni’s injury, I wasn’t here but talking to the medical department, it was not just an ACL – it was a bad injury, a lot of things around the knee were involved apart from the ACL.
“He has to be very confident, the rehab process has to be very careful with him and we want to make sure once he comes to the team, he stays there in a good place.
“It’s true that we’ve had, not a setback, but a little bit of a delay, if you want. The plan now is he starts in the next break. It’s not that far but it’s a little bit later than we expected, yes.”
If all goes to plan, Leoni is on the cusp of making his training return. And he perhaps isn’t the only one.
Iraola also revealed last month that Bradley, who has been sidelined since January with a serious injury, was closing in on a return to light training, while reports in France have claimed that Ekitike is hoping to make his return from an Achilles injury over the festive period.
"They are both doing very well," Iraola said last month when offering an update on the pair. "I think they are in a good place. Conor is not so far from training with the group – not like full training but doing some things with the group.
"Hugo is a little bit behind that but that was always the plan. He is still doing very well according to the plan.
"It’s difficult (to put a timescale on them both). When they have been injured for so long it’s difficult to say but I think Conor is not very far from starting doing things with us."
While exact return dates have not been pencilled in, publicly at least, it is clear from such updates that, all being well, the trio could be taking significant steps in their respective recoveries in the build-up to Christmas.
Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre
Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre (Image: 2025 Liverpool FC)
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And while only time will tell if Ekitike is being ambitious with his only return hopes, Iraola has at least mooted when Leoni and Bradley could make their training returns.
Liverpool will return to action following the November international break against Manchester United on November 22. Admittedly, it would be naïve to expect any of the trio to be thrown in against the Red Devils - even if they had made returns to full team training.
But a further three players, not including Szoboszlai who has linked up with Hungary despite his knee injury and - as things stand - will not have missed any matches prior to club football's return, could perhaps come back into contention against the Premier League strugglers.
Van Dijk is one. Having played through the pain barrier recently, the hope will be that he can use the international break to return to full fitness after pulling out of the Netherlands squad.
But the Reds will also hope to welcome back two of his Netherlands team-mates.
Jeremie Frimpong has been sidelined since limping off just six minutes into a substitute appearance against Brentford last month.
When last offering an update on the wing-back, Iraola admitted Frimpong was not expected to return until after the November international break.
"Frimpong has a new muscle injury,” he said last month. “It's difficult to predict (when he will return).
"We will have to wait until he recovers but it is going to be difficult before the break. We will try, but it is going to be difficult to have him.”
Meanwhile, Ryan Gravenberch has sat out Liverpool’s last two matches as he continues to battle an ongoing heel injury, having also been left unused in the Reds’ loss to Arsenal.
“The only doubt we’ll have is Ryan,” he said ahead of facing Palace. “The Ryan Gravenberch thing is a day-to-day thing.
“It’s a matter of pain. Let’s see if he can deal with the pain and he can help us.”
Jeremie Frimpong and Ryan Gravenberch of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre
Jeremie Frimpong and Ryan Gravenberch of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre (Image: Jeremie Frimpong and Ryan Gravenberch of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre )
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Having failed to recover in time to face Palace, a further two weeks’ rest and recovery will aid the midfielder, no doubt.
Liverpool lost three players to short-term injury during the September/October international break, as they were left without Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Szoboszlai for the Reds’ home defeat to Man City last month.
Consequently, Iraola is understandably wary of history repeating itself with any of his players suffering issues during the final break of the calendar year.
But if all remains on track with Liverpool’s current walking wounded, then, all being well, the Reds should indeed be in a better place when they return to club action.
And with Leoni, Bradley and Ekitike edging ever closer to their potential return dates, the end is very nearly in sight. Whisper it quietly but Iraola could be about to get his wish.