Liverpool could be without Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo for Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Manchester City after both forwards returned from international duty with injuries.
Andoni Iraola confirmed that Isak and Gakpo are doubtful for the fixture at Anfield, which will provide a significant test of Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the 2026-27 campaign.
Liverpool have won two and drawn three of their opening five league matches under Iraola. Their first game following the extended international break, however, comes against a Manchester City side with the Premier League’s only remaining 100% record.
Enzo Maresca’s team have won all five of their matches so far, while Liverpool may now be missing two of their most productive attacking players.
Isak has scored four goals in all competitions this season, more than any other Liverpool player. The Sweden international featured once during the international break before leaving the squad because of a thigh problem.
Gakpo has contributed six goals and assists combined, including two goals and four assists. That total is also better than any of his Liverpool team-mates’ this term.
The Netherlands forward played in two internationals but suffered a knock during the second, against Serbia.
Asked by Liverpool’s club website whether the pair would be available, Iraola said: “Alex Isak and Cody Gakpo both had to leave the national teams with injuries.
“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.”
Manchester City won 2-1 at Liverpool in February, although the away team has won two of the past three Premier League meetings between the clubs. That is as many away victories as there had been in the previous 32 matches between them.
The only previous occasion on which the fixture produced consecutive away wins in the Premier League was in 2002-03.
Sunday’s match will also be the first Liverpool-Manchester City meeting since March 2015 to take place without either Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola in the dugout. On that occasion, Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool beat Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City 2-1 at Anfield.
Iraola said Liverpool’s progress would be tested by City’s strong start, while outlining the style he wants his side to develop.
“I think the goal is quite clear, everyone understands what we are trying to build. To try to be more intense, more vertical, but you also want to control the games,” he said.
“We’ve been unbeaten, but they’ve won all of their games, so that makes a big difference on their side.
“I think we need to be very, very good if we want to beat City, because they’ve been scoring a lot of goals lately. We know the names that are very dangerous.
“But I think also we’ve shown good defensive improvements lately, and I hope we can defend the threats that they have and also hurt them on the other side.”
