Iraola Rules Out Isak and Gakpo for Liverpool vs Man City

Liverpool will be without Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo when Manchester City visit Anfield on Sunday, October 11, 2026, after both forwards sustained injuries during the international break. Head coach Andoni Iraola confirmed their absence at his Friday press conference, forcing Liverpool to reconsider their attacking options ahead of a crucial Premier League fixture.

According to Liverpool's official website, Isak has a thigh injury, while Gakpo is recovering from an ankle problem. Iraola expects neither injury to be long-term, but both players will be assessed daily as they work toward returning to action.

"Alex Isak and Cody Gakpo will not play the game. They are not ready," said Iraola, Liverpool's head coach.

The absences leave Liverpool short of experienced center-forward options. Hugo Ekitike remains sidelined with a ruptured Achilles tendon, according to Sky Sports and the Evening Standard, leaving Lewis Koumas among the available alternatives for the match against City.

"Cody has an ankle injury. He has had some before in his career and it's a matter of him dealing with the pain because when you twist your ankle... it was a really bad tackle, I think," Iraola said.

Gakpo has continued individual training, but the coaching staff will not rush his recovery. Isak's injury has also been described as minor, although its muscular nature means his availability depends on how quickly he recovers.

"And Alex has a thigh injury. It's a small injury but it's a muscle injury. The same [as Gakpo], whenever he feels ready," Iraola said.

Liverpool could deploy Bradley Barcola centrally, move Florian Wirtz into a false-nine role, or consider giving Koumas an opportunity. Iraola has not confirmed his preferred solution, and the final selection will depend on preparations before kickoff.

"He is a top player for us, he can play in any position up front, probably has played more as a left winger, but has played a little bit as a striker, even more as a right winger, so he can cover three positions up front and is a super valuable player for us," Iraola said of Barcola, the summer signing from Paris Saint-Germain.

Wirtz also faces pressure to deliver after an underwhelming performance against Bournemouth before the international break. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher criticized the German midfielder's display on his podcast, raising questions about whether he should start against Manchester City.

"That was one of the poorest I've ever seen him in a Liverpool shirt," Carragher said of Wirtz's performance against Bournemouth.

Carragher also questioned whether the midfielder belonged in Liverpool's starting lineup for the upcoming match, while Sky Sports News reporter Mark McAdam expressed confidence that Iraola could help the player find his best role.

"I'm convinced Iraola will have everything within what they do to find the best in him and that is what he has done historically, he has always found the right role for players," McAdam said.

There is better news in defense, where Jeremy Jacquet is expected to be available after missing France's final UEFA Nations League match against Belgium. The defender made his first two senior appearances for France during the international break, and Iraola attributed his absence from the final game to precautionary measures.

"Yeah, he's fit, he's ready to go," Iraola said of Jacquet.

The Liverpool coach added that the defender should be ready after completing the team's final preparations. Jacquet's return provides another option for a defense that has recorded three consecutive Premier League clean sheets, according to the Evening Standard.

Federico Chiesa has also resumed training following a preseason injury. However, the Italian has not played any minutes this season, meaning the City match could come too soon for a significant contribution.

"We will maybe recover Fede Chiesa but he hasn't played any minutes. He's recovering from an injury but he has been doing a good job in the international break and has been training with the small group we had," Iraola said.

Beyond the immediate injury concerns, Liverpool face a demanding schedule over the following three weeks, with seven matches across three competitions. Their upcoming fixtures include a league trip to Brentford, home games against Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal, a League Cup meeting with Chelsea, and further Champions League commitments.

"We still have to get ready because the schedule that we have now, it's very difficult. We are playing against top-four teams and then in between Champions League and then in between Chelsea in the Carabao Cup and everything in two, three days. So we have to get ready because this next month, after this break, it's going be very demanding for us," Iraola said.

Liverpool must therefore balance their immediate selection problems with the need to manage player workloads throughout a congested fixture list. The Premier League meeting with Manchester City at Anfield is scheduled to kick off at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 11, according to Sky Sports.