Iraola confirms Isak and Gakpo are injured and doubts for Man City clash

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has confirmed that Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo are both injured and are doubts for the Premier League Matchday 6 game against Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, October 11, 2026.

The Liverpool squad have returned from international duty and were due to face City in a Matchday 6 fixture, with Manchester City entering the game as league leaders after winning all five of their opening matches; Iraola said injuries have made the home side’s task harder.

Isak sustained a thigh injury while on international duty with Sweden, suffering the problem during the Sweden v Romania game on September 25, and Gakpo was forced to withdraw from the Netherlands camp after picking up an ankle injury in a challenge against Serbia.

Gakpo had to be replaced following a hard challenge from Serbian player Sasa Lukic, and the forward has two goals and four assists in six matches for the Reds this campaign.

Iraola confirmed the pair left their national teams injured and said the club must assess their recovery ahead of the match; when asked about their availability he noted it remains uncertain whether they will be fit in time.

The Reds will host Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday while also contending with off-field developments surrounding City, which the article describes as an uncertainty following their guilty verdict by the Premier League, and Iraola has acknowledged the scale of the challenge against Enzo Maresca’s side.

“I think Alex Isak and Cody Gakpo both have had to leave the national teams with injuries,” he said. “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.” The match is scheduled for Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 9:00 PM IST at Anfield.