Liverpool are monitoring the fitness of Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak after both players were hurt while away on international duty, casting doubt over their availability for the visit of Manchester City.
Gakpo was the first to cause fresh alarm, departing the Netherlands' Nations League fixture against Serbia after just 17 minutes on Sunday. The 27-year-old was caught by a challenge from Ipswich Town's Saša Lukić in the 12th minute, for which the midfielder was booked, and attempted to carry on. Five minutes later he signalled to the bench that he could not continue, went down for treatment and was replaced. He was seen holding his left ankle before medical staff attended to him, and a scan has been scheduled to determine the full extent of the damage.
Netherlands boss Xavi played down the severity of the issue after the match, saying he did not believe it to be serious, though he acknowledged that testing on Monday would be needed before anything could be confirmed and that he hoped it would not prove too important.
Football Insider pundit Keith Hackett assessed the challenge that ended Gakpo's evening. "Because he's grounded and the boot is not in the air, I think the referee has judged this one accurately," he told Football Insider. "It's a reckless challenge and a yellow-card outcome, not a red for serious foul play. Those types of challenges are pretty dangerous in that sense. It doesn't matter which direction they come from. But I think on this occasion, a yellow for reckless is the outcome. This is the nature of football: players getting injured."
Gakpo had been in outstanding touch heading into the break, registering two goals and four assists across his first six appearances for Liverpool this season — including a late equaliser for the Netherlands in their 1-1 draw with Germany the previous Thursday.
Isak's situation became clear a day earlier. The £125 million striker played the full 90 minutes in Sweden's Nations League victory over Romania, scoring in the process, but was found to have a thigh problem after the game and sent back to Liverpool's AXA Training Centre for assessment. Sweden boss Graham Potter addressed the issue at a press conference ahead of his side's match against Poland, explaining that while the thigh problem was not a large one, the congested schedule of fixtures meant Isak would be unable to take part in the remaining games. Potter added that after further checks in the 24 to 48 hours following the match, the injury had proved slightly more significant than it had appeared during the game itself.
Isak will sit out Sweden's remaining three fixtures in the window — against Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Romania — with club medical staff now leading his recovery. The forward had made a vivid start to the campaign, scoring five goals in seven starts, and had combined with Gakpo for a number of those contributions, including during the 1-0 win at Bournemouth on 20 September.
Liverpool's injury concerns extend beyond the two attackers. Hugo Ekitike has not featured since rupturing his right Achilles tendon against Paris Saint-Germain in April, while Federico Chiesa is yet to make a competitive appearance under Iraola after sustaining a back injury in a pre-season friendly. Conor Bradley also remains sidelined following surgery on bone and ligament damage to his left knee.
Liverpool return to Premier League action against Manchester City at Anfield on 11 October.
Reporting: CaughtOffside, The Sun, Football Insider, TeamTalk, Daily Star, Mirror, Evening Standard, ESPN, GiveMeSport.