Andoni Iraola has indicated that both Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo are uncertain for Liverpool’s upcoming match against Manchester City on Sunday due to injuries incurred during international games.
With a solid start under Iraola’s leadership—two wins and three draws in their initial five Premier League matches of the 2026-27 season—Liverpool now faces a significant challenge.
Their first outing after an extended international break is against a City team that has maintained a perfect record, winning all five games under Enzo Maresca.
This match could see Liverpool missing two key offensive players at Anfield.
Isak, who leads Liverpool with four goals this season across all competitions, only played once for Sweden before retiring from their squad due to a thigh injury.
Meanwhile, Gakpo, with six goal contributions (two goals, four assists) this season—more than any other teammate—played in two games for the Netherlands but sustained a knock during the second match against Serbia.
When asked for updates on both players during a club website interview, Iraola said, “Alex Isak and Cody Gakpo both had to leave their national teams with injuries. Now it’s a question of whether they will recover in time for the next game. But as of now, both are injured.”
Isak and Gakpo are nominated for @PFA Premier League Fans’ Player of the Month! https://t.co/BTND5F775p
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 7, 2026
The away team has secured victories in two of the last three Premier League encounters between Liverpool and Man City, matching their wins from the previous 32 clashes.
City emerged victorious with a 2-1 win on Merseyside last February, but prior to that, the last instance of back-to-back away wins occurred in the 2002-03 season.
This match will mark the first time Liverpool and City go head-to-head without either Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola on the sidelines since March 2015, when Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool defeated Manuel Pellegrini’s City 2-1 at Anfield.
Given the strong start made by Maresca’s squad, Iraola is expecting a true test of his team’s development.
“The objective is clear; everyone understands what we aim to build. We want to be more intense and vertical, yet also control the games,” he mentioned.
“We’ve gone unbeaten, but they have won every one of their games, which makes a significant difference. To beat City, we need to be exceptional since they’ve been scoring heavily recently. We’re aware of the players who pose threats. However, we’ve demonstrated improvements in our defense, and I hope we can handle their threats while also posing a challenge to them.”
Fan Take: This news is pivotal for soccer enthusiasts as it highlights the potential absences of crucial players, which could shift the match’s dynamic significantly. A win or loss for Liverpool in this high-stakes game can have implications not only for their momentum in the league but also for the title race, making every match crucial in the pursuit of glory.
Source: www.soccernews.com
