Liverpool FC Morning Briefing: Isak & Gakpo out for City

Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo will miss Sunday’s Premier League game against Manchester City at Anfield, Andoni Iraola confirmed at his Friday press conference.

Gakpo has an ankle injury and Isak a thigh injury, and Iraola said neither looks long term, with both to be assessed day by day. No return dates were given. Jeremy Jacquet is “fit, he’s ready to go” after missing France’s last game as a precaution, although he still needed to train on Saturday, and Federico Chiesa is back in training but “hasn’t played any minutes”.

Sunday’s game

Liverpool v Manchester City is at Anfield on Sunday 11 October, kicking off at 4.30pm UK time, live on Sky Sports in the UK. Chris Kavanagh is the referee, with Dan Cook and Nick Greenhalgh as his assistants, Andy Madley as fourth official and Paul Howard on VAR. LFCTV’s Matchday Live starts at 3.15pm UK time. City will be without Phil Foden, who is serving the last match of his suspension, while Enzo Maresca says Erling Haaland is fit.

Who plays up front?

With Hugo Ekitike still out long term as well, Iraola said Lewis Koumas is probably the only out-and-out No.9 available, but that “we have some wingers that have played up front in other teams”. He called Bradley Barcola “a top player for us” who can cover all three positions across the front line, and said: “I think we will put an XI with a level enough to compete for that game.” He added that it is “a good moment for those players to step up”.

Iraola on the City verdict

City’s first game since an independent commission found them in breach of the Premier League’s financial rules between 2009-10 and 2017-18 is at Anfield. City deny wrongdoing and have appealed, and Maresca says he completely trusts the club. Asked about it, Iraola said: “My opinion is not valid”, and that “uncertainty is not good for anyone”.

Van Dijk’s Sky Sports interview

Virgil van Dijk told Sky Sports that “before you know it, it’s gone” and that when he eventually walks out of the club “it will be a very emotional day”. Some are reading that as a hint he is leaving, but he was reflecting in the final year of his contract, and no extension talks or decision have been reported.

Around the club

Ronald Araujo, on a season-long loan from Barcelona, says he is “very, very comfortable” at Liverpool and has played in all seven games under Iraola so far. Dominik Szoboszlai’s goal against Tottenham has been voted Goal of the Month, and Jurgen Klopp thanked supporters for the mini-statue donated to the LFC Museum: “Thank YOU very much. And lots of love.” The Reds travel to LASK on Wednesday 14 October (5.45pm UK time), and away ticket details are out for the trip to Fenerbahce on Wednesday 4 November. Liverpool FC Women captain Grace Fisk made her England debut off the bench in a 3-1 win in Greece in the first leg of a World Cup play-off semi-final, and Lily Woodham started in Wales’ 1-0 win over Albania.

Transfers, contracts and ownership

Nothing new from Ornstein, Romano, Pearce or Joyce on a Liverpool deal. Mexican outlet El Porvenir says Arsenal have made an offer for Club Tijuana’s Gilberto Mora, who turns 18 on Wednesday, but the earlier claim of a record Liverpool bid still rests on one Mexican TV source and his agent has declined to comment, so treat all of it as unconfirmed. Other links, including Josh King, Josh Acheampong and Michael Olise, come from single sources and are not confirmed. There is nothing credible new on contracts, ownership or staffing.