Liverpool suffer Isak and Gakpo injuries before Manchester City clash

Liverpool will be without Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo for their Premier League meeting with unbeaten leaders Manchester City at Anfield this afternoon.

Both forwards were injured while on international duty. Gakpo sustained an ankle problem during the Netherlands’ match against Serbia, while Isak suffered what manager Andoni Iraola called a “small” thigh injury in Sweden’s game against Romania.

“Alex Isak and Cody Gakpo will not play the game; they are not ready; they both have injuries in the international break,” Iraola said.

The injuries are not expected to keep either player out for a prolonged period. Gakpo’s involvement will depend on how he manages the pain, while Liverpool are assessing both players on a daily basis.

Isak’s absence is particularly significant after the striker scored four goals in Liverpool’s first five league matches. His injury could give 21-year-old Wales forward Lewis Koumas the opportunity to lead the attack.

“Koumas has our trust,” Iraola said. “I don’t think it’s a big surprise; I always liked the player, and he has already shown in important minutes that he’s ready to go, and we have also other players who can go in those positions.”

The fixture begins a demanding period for Liverpool, with their Premier League and Champions League campaigns resuming before the next international break in November.

“I think this run of games we have now [with league and Champions League campaigns resuming], the demands are very high; they are also very condensed, so I think it will say a lot about us,” Iraola said.

“I think after this run of games, we will really know where we are.”

Manchester City are the only side to have won all five of their league matches and sit top of the table. Liverpool are sixth, six points behind, after two wins and three draws.

The match has also drawn increased attention because it is Manchester City’s first fixture since an independent commission found the club guilty of more than 100 breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules. City deny wrongdoing and have appealed.

“Uncertainty is not good for anyone, and anyone involved, but the process is ongoing, and we have to be patient like everyone else and see what happens at the end,” Iraola said.

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca defended the club’s achievements and rejected suggestions their titles had been tainted. He said he would “absolutely” still have accepted the job had he known about the case.

Maresca, who worked on Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff during City’s 2022-23 treble-winning season, was repeatedly questioned about the matter at his news conference.

“I know the effort from the players, from the club, from the manager in that time, that was Pep,” he said. Asked if the achievements were tainted, he replied: “Absolutely not.”

Regarding Guardiola’s future, Maresca said: “I would like to speak about this situation when we win the appeal.”

He also confirmed Erling Haaland is fit after being given a short break following the international break. “He’s good,” Maresca said.

Merseyside police said an appropriate operation would be in place after concerns that Manchester City’s team bus could be targeted. A social media post has urged supporters to gather near Anfield several hours before kick-off with flags, banners, pyrotechnics and flares.

The City bus was hit by bottles, cans and flares before a Champions League match at Anfield in 2018 and was damaged badly enough to require a replacement for the journey back to Manchester.