Liverpool's international break from hell has deepened just three days before their biggest game of the season, with Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak both absent from Thursday's training session and now major doubts for Sunday's Premier League showdown with table-topping Manchester City.
The Reds have already endured a miserable fortnight on the international stage, and Andoni Iraola is now facing the prospect of taking on City — who arrive at Anfield unbeaten and full of confidence — without two of his most dangerous forwards.
Gakpo and Isak miss training
There was no sign of either forward at Liverpool's Kirkby base on Thursday, per reports in the Liverpool Echo picked up by Sports Mole, leaving Iraola with a nervous wait before the visit of the champions-elect.
Gakpo limped out of the Netherlands' Nations League clash with Serbia after just 17 minutes, unable to continue after a strong challenge from midfielder Sasa Lukic. The Dutch winger attempted to carry on but was forced off with an ankle injury, cutting his international duty short.
Isak, meanwhile, lasted just one match with Sweden before being sent home with a minor thigh problem, picked up during the Swedes' 2-1 victory over Romania. The striker has been electric since his summer move to Merseyside, scoring four goals in five Premier League appearances.
Iraola admitted this week that both players are in a race against time. "I think Alex Isak and Cody Gakpo both have had to leave the national teams with injuries," he said. "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."
Jacquet back but problems pile up
The one piece of good news for Liverpool came at the other end of the pitch, where Jeremy Jacquet returned to training after his injury scare with France.
The 21-year-old centre-back was left out of Les Bleus' squad for Monday's 4-1 win over Belgium, with the French Football Federation confirming he had suffered a strain to his left hamstring — news first reported by talkSPORT. Zinedine Zidane described the defender as "slightly injured" in his post-match press conference, and his appearance back on the pitch alongside his team-mates suggests the issue was precautionary rather than serious.
Jacquet's return is a significant boost. The young Frenchman has started all five of Liverpool's Premier League games this season and has formed a formidable partnership with Virgil van Dijk at the heart of Iraola's defence. Losing him for Sunday would have left Liverpool threadbare at the back, with only on-loan Ronald Araujo and Joe Gomez as senior cover.
That still leaves Iraola light in attack, however. Gakpo has two goals and four assists in six appearances this season, and with summer signing Bradley Barcola more comfortable out wide, the head coach may have to press the young Frenchman into a central role or push Florian Wirtz further forward from his number 10 position. Sports Mole even raised the prospect of Lewis Koumas — who may be Liverpool's only fit recognised number nine — being involved if neither injured forward recovers in time.
City arrive as table-toppers
The timing could hardly be worse. City travel to Anfield on Sunday looking to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League, and they will smell blood if Liverpool's front line is held together by duct tape.
Liverpool currently sit sixth, but they remain unbeaten under Iraola, who has steadied the ship impressively since replacing Arne Slot in the dugout. Their defensive solidity has been built on the Van Dijk-Jacquet axis, and the return of the latter at least means the spine of the team is intact.
There is also a brutal run of fixtures on the horizon. After City, Liverpool face seven games in the space of three weeks across three competitions — including meetings with LASK Linz, Brentford, Villarreal, Brighton, Chelsea and Arsenal. How Iraola manages his depleted squad through that gauntlet could define Liverpool's entire season.
Sunday, though, is the immediate test. Lose both forwards and Liverpool's unbeaten record will be under severe threat against a City side that has shown no mercy to anyone this season. City's own star striker has had an injury scare of his own this week, with Haaland also a doubt after his Norway substitution — proof that nobody is safe in this punishing international window.
Beyond the Final Whistle: Andoni Iraola has done a superb job keeping Liverpool unbeaten, but the international break has dealt him a brutal hand at the worst possible moment. Getting Gakpo or Isak fit for Sunday could be the difference between a statement result and a reality check against City's juggernaut. If both are out, can Liverpool's makeshift attack still breach the league leaders' defence? Have your say in the comments.
