Liverpool injury update: Alexander Isak, Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo latest news and return dates

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COMMENTSLiverpool continue to battle some significant injury issues during a busy week.

The Reds are in Austria on Wednesday evening to face LASK Linz in their second league phase outing in the Champions League to follow last month’s 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid at Anfield.

Liverpool return to European action looking to quickly bounce back from Sunday’s heavy 3-0 loss to Manchester City, when they were brushed aside by the Premier League leaders at a hostile Anfield in what was City’s first game since they were found guilty by an independent commission of all charges related to serious breaches of the top-flight’s financial rules between 2009/10 and 2017/18.

Head coach Andoni Iraola was unable to call upon key forwards Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo in that game, while Dominik Szoboszlai was a shock absentee.

Liverpool competed well against City for an hour until the game totally turned following a contentious red card for Ryan Gravenberch, who will now be suspended for Saturday’s clash with Brentford. Here is all the latest Liverpool injury news and return dates.

Szoboszlai was a surprise omission from the Liverpool matchday squad against City as pre-match fears regarding his fitness were realised.

The Hungary international’s absence was initially reported to be due to a hamstring problem – something that was later confirmed by Iraola.

“Another one coming from the international games,” said the Liverpool boss on Sky Sports. “He came with an overload, he felt a tight hamstring.

“He’s tried somehow, kind of pushing through training, but he was not feeling 100 per cent and we will have to wait for Dom, yes.”

Big loss: Dominik Szoboszlai is an influential figure for LiverpoolGettyIraola delivered a fresh update on Szoboszlai after the loss to Man City and did not sound too confident about the midfielder recovering in time to travel to Austria.

Indeed, he stayed behind, with Iraola saying on Wednesday of Szoboszlai, Isak and Gakpo: “They are not far, but it’s difficult to tell you right now any of the three have trained with the group. We are taking it day to day.

“Probably I think the three of them are not far, I would say. But it’s going to be… I don’t know if they are going to be ready for Brentford, for Villarreal, for Brighton, I don’t know. I don’t really know.”

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Potential return date: Saturday October 17, vs Brentford (A)

Iraola confirmed in his pre-City press conference on Friday that Isak was still nursing a thigh problem suffered while away on international duty with Sweden during the extended three-week break.

As such, Liverpool had to make do without their record signing for a huge showdown, with youngster Lewis Koumas handed a first Premier League start up front instead.

Isak sustained a thigh injury during Sweden’s win against Romania on September 25, and like Szoboszlai, is unlikely to recover in time to face LASK on Wednesday night.

Momentum halted: Alexander Isak was finding form for club and country before setbackAFP/GettyLiverpool’s open training session on Tuesday before flying out to Austria will provide further clarity on the striker’s issue, if not Iraola’s next update when addressing the media.

Potential return date: Saturday October 17, vs Brentford (A)

They say bad things happen in threes and the absence of Gakpo was another hammer blow for Liverpool going into the Manchester City showdown.

The Dutchman was on the receiving end of a strong tackle from Sasa Lukic against Serbia on September 27 and then requested to be taken off after initially attempting to carry on.

He returned to Liverpool early for assessment on the ankle injury sustained before being ruled out against Man City.

Double blow: Cody Gakpo was also unfortunate during the international breakPALike with Isak and Szoboszlai, Gakpo did not travel to Austria and it remains to be seen in which of Liverpool’s other upcoming matches he will make his return.

Potential return date: Saturday October 17, vs Brentford (A)

Leoni signed for Liverpool from Parma last summer in a deal worth around £26million, but a serious knee injury means he has been limited to just one senior appearance so far.

The Italian central defender made his Liverpool debut in a Carabao Cup third round tie against Southampton in September 2025, and impressed before landing awkwardly following a challenge near the touchline just over 10 minutes from time.

Leoni required treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off and it was later confirmed that he had suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear.

He was expected to miss a full year of action, which has proved to be the case.

Comeback close: Giovanni Leoni should be back in action for Liverpool this monthGettyIn a boost for Liverpool, Leoni was expected to resume training during the extended international break.

That said, having been sidelined for over a year, he will, perhaps, need some minutes for the Under-21s before being considered for first-team action. Though, the Carabao Cup game against Chelsea at the end of the month could be a realistic target.

Potential return date: Tuesday October 27, vs Chelsea (H)

Ekitike has not played since rupturing his right Achilles tendon in the second leg of Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain in April.

The Frenchman missed the end of last season and the World Cup, with suggestions that he would remain sidelined for a period of between nine to 12 months, which would put him on track to return between January and April next year.

Iraola sprung a surprise by including Ekitike in his squad for the league phase of the Champions League, with the hope that he could potentially return for the final two games in January, against Inter Milan and Lens.

Working his way back: Hugo Ekitike was included in Liverpool’s Champions League squadGettyAccording to reports in France, Ekitike is now targeting a return from injury before the end of the year after recently travelling to the United States to visit a specialist about his recovery.

Conor Bradley is another long-term absentee for Liverpool, having undergone surgery on bone and ligament damage to his left knee suffered during the closing stages of the goalless away draw with Arsenal in the Premier League back in January.

Providing a recent update on the Northern Ireland captain, Iraola said: “He is not close to training with the team. He is training alone but he has started touching the ball. We want him back as soon as possible.

“He has a road a little bit ahead of him and it is going to take some time.

“I think Leoni is a little bit ahead of him and still it’s going to take some time for Conor, yes.”