Liverpool face Atletico de Madrid with six players unavailable and Cody Gakpo doubtful

Liverpool begin their Champions League campaign against Atletico de Madrid with six players unavailable, while Cody Gakpo is a doubt after missing training on Tuesday.

The situation represents an early test of manager Andoni Iraola’s ability to manage his squad as Liverpool balance their European commitments with domestic football. Iraola has limited experience of continental competition, with his only previous campaign coming during a brief Europa League spell with AEK Larnaca.

His first Champions League assignment will therefore begin with several selection problems. Gakpo sat out Tuesday’s session as a precaution, according to journalist Paul Joyce, leaving his involvement against Atletico de Madrid uncertain.

Joe Gomez is also expected to miss the match because of a muscle problem. The defender has returned to training, however, and is the closest of Liverpool’s injured players to making a comeback.

Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo will not be available because they were omitted from Liverpool’s Champions League squad. Registration rules relating to non-homegrown players mean neither player can be added to the list until January.

Chiesa is also recovering from injury and is not expected to resume training until the international break beginning on 21 September.

Liverpool will additionally be without Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley, who are sidelined with ACL and knee injuries respectively. Hugo Ekitike is continuing his recovery from an Achilles problem.

Bradley and Ekitike are both expected to remain out for the long term, further reducing Iraola’s options as Liverpool prepare for their opening European fixture.

Bradley Barcola offers another attacking option, and Iraola indicated that the player could be given a greater role despite having had limited minutes during pre-season.

“I think he’s ready to play more minutes,” Iraola said of Barcola.

“He has been training quite normally. The only thing is he hasn’t had the pre-season minutes that normally players have.

“We have to consider this, but I see him in a really good place. I think he can play more minutes definitely.”

Iraola will need to weigh Barcola’s readiness alongside Gakpo’s fitness when deciding his team for the visit of Atletico de Madrid. The manager must also consider the demands of a Champions League campaign while keeping Liverpool competitive in domestic football.

The match is the first major European test of Iraola’s Liverpool tenure and comes at a time when his squad is already being stretched by injuries and registration restrictions.