Liverpool Faces Three Injury Absences Ahead of Champions League Clash

Liverpool will be without Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak for their UEFA Champions League match against LASK in Austria on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, as the club manages injuries affecting three important players. Manager Andoni Iraola said the trio could return soon but could not confirm when they would be available, leaving their prospects for upcoming domestic fixtures uncertain.

According to Fantasy Football Scout's October 13 injury report, Szoboszlai is recovering from a hamstring problem, Gakpo has an ankle injury and Isak is dealing with a quadriceps issue. None of the three has resumed training with the first team, and their availability for matches against Brentford, Villarreal and Brighton remains unclear.

Iraola offered a cautiously optimistic assessment of their recovery while emphasizing that decisions would depend on their progress in training.

"They are not far but it’s difficult to tell you right now. Not any of the three have trained with the group and we are taking it day to day. The three of them are not far, I would say, but I don’t know if they are going to be ready for Brentford, for Villarreal, for Brighton, I don’t know." said Andoni Iraola.

Liverpool also remain without Hugo Ekitike, who has an Achilles injury, and defenders Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni, both sidelined with knee problems. Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo are ineligible for European competition, while Ryan Gravenberch is suspended for Gameweek 7 but available for the midweek European fixture.

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca provided no significant new injury concerns for his squad during his press conference, according to Fantasy Football Scout. No Manchester City players were flagged in Fantasy Premier League at the time of the report. Phil Foden's three-match domestic suspension has ended, although the ban would not have prevented him from playing in European competition.

Maresca also discussed Rayan Cherki's contribution to Manchester City's performances, initially joking about whether the playmaker would feature before praising his work away from the ball.

"But Rayan, he doesn’t play tomorrow. He doesn’t play tomorrow. No [laughs], he plays.

I don’t know, but Rayan is a very good person. It’s very important. And after that, he’s a very good player.

He is very good with the ball. We know that. But at this moment, he is very good without the ball.

He works very good, he works very well, so that is important for him, for me." said Enzo Maresca.

Aston Villa also reported several availability concerns ahead of their European fixture against Fenerbahce. Matteo Ruggeri is expected to miss more than a month after sustaining a hamstring injury in Gameweek 6, while Amadou Onana remains sidelined with a knee problem. Modo Cisse and Ian Maatsen are progressing in training but were unavailable for the midweek match.

Villa manager Unai Emery confirmed that Leon Goretzka would be included in the squad against Fenerbahce. George Hemmings remained doubtful because of persistent pain, although Emery hoped the player could return for Saturday's match against Newcastle United. Brian Madjo, who missed the beginning of the 2026-27 season with an ankle injury, has resumed training but is ineligible for European competition.

Emery outlined the contrasting situations affecting his squad, including Ruggeri's longer absence and the potential return of other players.

"There are negative ways for some players, because they are injured like Ruggeri. Matteo Ruggeri, we don’t know exactly how long it’s going to be, but more or less some weeks that he’s going to be out, more than one month. We try to find solutions because Maatsen is not yet available for tomorrow.

I think, the way he is, getting better, he should be in a few days or a week joining, so it’s positive. Leon Goretzka is in the squad for tomorrow. George Hemmings is still being with a small pain – not [available] for tomorrow but hopefully, maybe on Saturday he can come back.

Onana, Cisse is starting to train with us, and we have some players without the possibility to play in the Champions League, like Taylor [Harwood-Bellis] and Madjo. Madjo is training with us and hopefully can join us in the group for Saturday." said Unai Emery.