Liverpool FCIsak, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Gravenberch – Liverpool injury and suspension news and return datesThe latest Liverpool injury and team news ahead of the Champions League match away to LASK on Wednesday
Alexander Isak of Liverpool during the during the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco at Anfield on August 9, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)View 3
Isak missed Liverpool’s Premier League loss to Manchester City at Anfield through injury(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)Liverpool return to Champions League on Wednesday when they travel to Austrian Bundesliga champions LASK (5.45pm kick-off). The Reds will be looking to make it two league phase wins from two and bounce back from the first defeat of the Andoni Iraola era.That came on Sunday when they went down to a 3-0 home loss to table-topping Manchester City in the Premier League.
Already a tough task with Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo joining three other first-team players on the sidelines, the Reds suffered fresh blows before and during the match.Dominik Szoboszlai was ruled out ahead of kick-off while fellow midfielder Ryan Gravenberch was sent controversially sent off in the 62nd minute, after which City made their one-man advantage to score three times without reply.
READ MORE: Virgil van Dijk promises to speak out on Man City verdict – ‘I will definitely have my opinion’READ MORE: Gianluigi Donnarumma escorted away as new tunnel footage shows clash with Liverpool fansSo, as it stands, Liverpool could be without as many as seven senior stars for Saturday’s tricky Premier League test at Brentford.
But how is Iraola’s squad shaping up for the showdown with LASK? We take a look here…Ryan GravenberchPremier League suspensions do not carry over into European competition so Gravenberch will be able to feature against LASK before missing the clash with Brentford.He’ll then be able to play in next Tuesday’s Champions League encounter at home to Villarreal before returning to domestic duties, following his one-game ban, in the home match against Brighton & Hove Albion on October 25.
Liverpool Echo IconGet the latest Liverpool Echo breaking news on WhatsAppOur community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More infoJoin us on WhatsAppPotential return date (Premier League): Brighton & Hove Albion (H), Sunday, October 25Dominik SzoboszlaiIraola played down the seriousness of Szoboszlai’s hamstring injury after the loss to Man City. But the Hungary captain looks set to miss Wednesday’s Champions League fixture.
“Dom came from the national team, tiredness, overload,” Iraola said. “We put him as a floater in the training session, try to protect him, but he was not feeling [right], it was something very small. But it’s true that now we play four games in 10 days.”So it’s going to be difficult, because now we fly to Austria in two days. So I think it’s going to be difficult to recover any of the players.”Potential return date:
Brentford (A), Saturday, October 17Dominik Szoboszlai of Hungary competes for the ball with Vitaliy Mykolenko of Ukraine during the UEFA Nations League match at Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary, on September 25, 2026. (Photo by Robert Szaniszlo/NurPhoto via Getty Images)View 3 ImagesLiverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai and Everton left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko battle for the ball during the Nations League match at Puskas Arena in Budapest(Image:
Robert Szaniszlo/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Alexander IsakIsak was the Reds’ match-winner at Bournemouth before the international break as his fourth goal of the Premier League season sealed a 1-0 triumph. He then took that form into the international arena as he opened the scoring in Sweden’s 2-1 home win over Romania in the Nations League.However, he was forced to return to the AXA Training Centre after sustaining a thigh injury. Sweden boss Graham Potter said:
“He’s got a small problem with his thigh. It’s not a big one but because of the amount of games we’ve got in a small space of time, he won’t be able to make those..”Iraola then said when ruling Isak out of the match against Man City: “Alex has a thigh injury. It’s not a massive injury, it’s a small injury.”Potential return date: Brentford (A), Saturday, October 17Cody GakpoAnother forward who was in fantastic form for club and country is Gakpo, whose last-gasp goal denied a first win as Germany manager for Jurgen Klopp.
But in his next Netherlands match, Gakpo sustained an ankle injury after being the victim of a strong challenge from Serbia and Ipswich Town midfielder Sasa Lukic.New Netherlands head coach Xavi said afterwards that he was hopeful the Liverpool man had avoided a serious injury, but Dutch journalist Rik Elfrink took to X (formerly Twitter) to say he will be out for “several weeks”.Gakpo was subsequently ruled out of the City clash with Iraola saying beforehand: “Cody has an ankle injury.
He has had some before in his career and it’s a matter of him dealing with the pain. When you twist your ankle, it was a really bad tackle I think, he is doing things individually but he isn’t ready for Sunday.”Potential return date: UnknownAMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – SEPTEMBER 24: Cody Gakpo of Netherlands celebrates scoring his teams first goal of the game with teammate Virgil van Dijk during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Netherlands and Germany at on September 24, 2026 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
(Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)View 3 ImagesCody Gakpo is congratulated by Virgil van Dijk after his equaliser for the Netherlands against Germany (Image: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)Giovanni LeoniIt is hoped the Italian defender could be back part of the main group by the middle of this month. Of course, having been out injured for so long makes it unlikely he will immediately be considered for selection.
But given the amount of games the Reds play before the next international break, Leoni could well be targeting a place in the matchday squad in one of them if given the green light.Potential return date: Chelsea (H), Wednesday, October 28Hugo EkitikeThe second of Liverpool’s three long-term injury victims, Ekitike has not played since rupturing his Achilles tendon against his former club Paris Saint-Germain in April.
But according to L’Equipe, the hard work the striker is putting in behind the scenes could see him return to training next month.And it is believed that Ekitike’s long-term target has been to get back into action by Boxing Day, which given the serious nature of the injury he sustained, would be remarkably swift comeback.
Potential return date: Hull City (A), Saturday, December 26POLLWhere do you think Liverpool will finish this season?1609+ Votes so farCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 2: Liverpool FC Head Coach Andoni Iraola concentrates after the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field on August 2, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
(Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)Liverpool’s new head coach Andoni Iraola, pictured on the club’s tour of the US(Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)ChampionsChampions League placesOutside the Champions League placesTop 10Bottom halfNextConor BradleyOf all the players on this list, Bradley still feels the furthest away, with Iraola saying last month:
“I think he is not close to training with the team. He’s training alone, but he has started touching the ball. Definitely, I want him as quick as possible ready, but it’s a long-term injury.”The right-back suffered an ACL injury back in January at Arsenal and his Northern Ireland manager, Michael O’Neill, also said last month that he didn’t expect Bradley to be available for November’s international matches.
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