INTERNATIONAL

Liverpool sweat on Isak & Gakpo ahead of massive Man City clash at Anfield

📅 October 3, 2026 · By Liberia Sports Live · AI-assisted match report · 👁 4

Latest Result

Liverpool's most recent outing before the international break was a hard-fought 1-0 Premier League victory away at Bournemouth on September 20. Alexander Isak provided the decisive moment, netting the only goal of the game to extend the Reds' unbeaten start under new manager Andoni Iraola. The win left Liverpool with five Premier League games played, recording two wins and three draws for nine points on the board.

Injury Concerns

The good feeling from that Bournemouth win has been dampened by worrying news from the international break. Both Isak and Cody Gakpo have returned to Merseyside early carrying injuries, putting a cloud over Liverpool's preparations for what promises to be a defining October.

Isak scored for Sweden against Romania but felt discomfort during the match. Sweden manager Graham Potter confirmed the striker has a thigh injury and sent him back to Liverpool for assessment, saying plainly: "Clearly there's not another Alexander Isak." Liverpool's club statement confirmed he will be assessed by medical staff at the AXA Training Centre, with the October 11 home clash against Manchester City firmly in mind as a potential return date.

Gakpo's situation is potentially more worrying. The Dutch winger was forced off just 17 minutes into the Netherlands' game against Serbia after taking a heavy challenge from Sasa Lukic. Reports from Dutch journalist Rik Elfrink suggest Gakpo could be "out for several weeks" — a significant blow given he has been one of Liverpool's sharpest and most productive attackers this season. Between them, Isak and Gakpo have scored five of Liverpool's seven league goals so far, making their fitness absolutely critical heading into a packed schedule.

To compound matters, striker Hugo Ekitike remains sidelined as he continues his recovery from a serious knee injury suffered in March. Defender Giovanni Leoni — who himself has been out for over 12 months with an ACL injury — is however nearing a return, with reports indicating he should be back in full training in the week commencing October 12.

Busy October Ahead

Liverpool face six games across three competitions in just 17 days once the international break ends. First up is the huge Premier League home fixture against Manchester City on October 11 — a side that has won all five of their league matches this season under new manager Enzo Maresca. The Reds then travel to Austria to face LASK in the Champions League on October 14, before hosting Villarreal at Anfield on October 20 in Europe. Brighton visit Anfield on October 25, and Chelsea follow on October 28. Manager Andoni Iraola, in just his first full season on Merseyside, faces a genuine test of his squad depth and rotation ability over this period.

Transfer Talk

(Rumour) Liverpool's future in the transfer market is generating plenty of noise. Reports from TeamTalk claim the club is considering ways to re-sign a former midfielder as doubts linger over Alexis Mac Allister's future, with Real Madrid said to be monitoring the Argentine's contract situation — and Liverpool reportedly reaching a decision internally on whether he has done enough to earn a renewal. Separately, sources cited by Football Insider suggest Liverpool have made direct contact over a £21m Ligue 1 target, while CaughtOffside reports the club is considering a January move for a 23-year-old French top-flight player. There is also speculation, reported by Give Me Sport, that Liverpool are strong favourites to sign a player described as the "fastest in the Premier League." All of these remain unconfirmed rumours at this stage. On the outgoing side, reports link a former Liverpool player with a potential move to Newcastle, while Real Madrid are said to be interested in another ex-Red according to Anfield Index.

Sources

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