Well, this is the Liverpool injury update I was hoping for — although I can’t pretend it doesn’t worry me.
Andoni Iraola has confirmed that Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo are both currently injured after leaving their respective international squads early.
But there is an important part of what he said that Liverpool supporters shouldn’t overlook.
Neither player has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against Manchester City.
Iraola was asked about the situation and explained:
“I think Alex Isak and Cody Gakpo both have had to leave the national teams with injuries. Now it’s a matter of if they are going to recover in time to help us in the next game or not. But right now they are both injured.”
So, basically, we wait.
And I absolutely hate waiting for injury news.
Liverpool really need them
Let’s be honest, this isn’t an ideal time to lose either player.
Liverpool return to action on Sunday with Manchester City visiting Anfield, and Iraola has already acknowledged just how difficult that game is going to be.
City have started the season brilliantly and are currently top of the Premier League, while Liverpool remain unbeaten. Iraola knows his side will need to be at their very best to beat them.
And that is why the fitness of Isak and Gakpo suddenly becomes so important.
The two players have already made a huge contribution to Liverpool’s attacking output this season.
Isak has scored four Premier League goals in five appearances, while Gakpo has also become an increasingly important part of Iraola’s attack.
Take those two out of the team and suddenly Iraola has a very different selection problem.
But I’m not going to panic yet
This is the bit I keep coming back to.
Iraola hasn’t said they’re out.
He’s said they’re injured.
There’s a difference.
Isak was withdrawn from Sweden’s squad after suffering a minor thigh injury during the win over Romania. Sweden manager Graham Potter described it as a small problem and said the decision to send him home was partly because of the number of games in a short period.
Gakpo’s situation is slightly different.
He suffered an ankle injury during the Netherlands’ win over Serbia and was substituted after just 17 minutes. Liverpool subsequently confirmed that he had withdrawn from international duty and would return to the AXA Training Centre for further assessment.
Neither situation sounds like something Liverpool wanted.
But neither automatically means they will miss Manchester City either.
Sunday could come down to patience
This is where I think Iraola and Liverpool’s medical team have to be sensible.
If Isak or Gakpo are fit enough to play without taking a significant risk, fantastic.
If they aren’t, don’t force them.
As much as I want to see both players against City, one Premier League game isn’t worth turning a relatively minor injury into a much bigger problem.
Liverpool have a huge run of fixtures coming up.
And that’s something Iraola has to consider.
Liverpool are set to play nine matches before the next international break, including Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup fixtures.
So the decision can’t simply be:
“Can they get through 90 minutes on Sunday?”
It has to be:
“Can they play safely and remain available for the games that follow?”
That’s a much bigger question.
And this is why the timing is so frustrating
I know international football is part of the game.
I know players want to represent their countries.
But this particular international window has been brutal.
The September and October windows were combined this year, creating a 16-day period with four Nations League matchdays. Netherlands manager Xavi has already criticised the schedule, saying the packed programme increases the risk of injuries and creates problems for clubs when players return injured.
Liverpool have now felt that problem directly.
Isak comes home with a thigh issue.
Gakpo comes home with an ankle injury.
And Jérémy Jacquet has also been withdrawn by France after feeling a strain in his left hamstring.
That’s a lot for Iraola to deal with before his team has even kicked a ball after the break.
But Liverpool have to be ready either way
This is where the squad depth becomes important.
If Isak and Gakpo recover in time, brilliant.
If one of them makes it, Iraola has to decide how much risk is acceptable.
And if neither makes it?
Then Liverpool have to find another solution.
Bradley Barcola is an obvious attacking option, while Lewis Koumas has just enjoyed a hugely valuable international break with Wales.
That’s the advantage of having options.
They might not replace what Isak and Gakpo give you individually, but they can give Iraola different ways of attacking City.
And perhaps that’s where we could see another young Liverpool player step up.
I’m still keeping my fingers crossed
For now, that’s really all Liverpool supporters can do.
Iraola has given us the honest answer.
Isak is injured. Gakpo is injured.
But they’re being assessed, and there is still time for them to recover before Manchester City arrive at Anfield.
So I’m not going to start writing either player out of the game.
Let’s see how they respond over the next few days.
If they’re fit, I’ll be absolutely delighted to see them in the squad.
If they’re not, then we move on and trust the players who are available.
Because that’s football.
But let’s be honest…
Seeing Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo both back training before Sunday would be one hell of an injury update.
And right now, that’s exactly what I’m hoping for.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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