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Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo are "both injured" as Liverpool gear up to resume Premier League action this weekend in a high-stakes clash against Manchester City at Anfield.
Head coach Andoni Iraola has not completely ruled either player out, but both remain doubts — a potential consequence of the September-October international break for the Reds. Centre-back Jérémy Jacquet is also returning to Merseyside carrying an injury.
Liverpool are still adapting under Iraola's leadership, shifting away from Arne Slot's approach and back toward a style more reminiscent of Jürgen Klopp. The Reds have gone unbeaten across all competitions through seven matches of the new era, though they have drawn most of their league outings.
Isak and Gakpo have been two of Liverpool's standout performers in the early weeks of the campaign. The Swedish forward has already scored four Premier League goals, surpassing his entire 2025–26 tally, while the Dutchman has bounced back from a difficult spell and significant personal hardship to deliver consistently throughout 2026–27.
Both departed their respective national teams early due to injury.
"Alex Isak and Cody Gakpo both had to leave their national teams with injuries. Now it's a question of whether they'll recover in time to be available for our next match," Iraola told beIN SPORTS in the buildup to the Manchester City fixture.
"Right now, they are both injured," the Spanish coach added.
There is still time for the situation to improve, though at this point neither player can be considered much more than a doubt for the game.
Isak was spotted with a bloodied toe after netting in Sweden's 25 Sept. victory over Romania before withdrawing from the squad. However, the toe itself wasn't the underlying issue — manager Graham Potter attributed the withdrawal to a minor thigh problem. "Given the number of matches we have in a short period, it's not feasible [to keep him in the squad]," Potter explained.
Gakpo featured for the Netherlands against Germany and Serbia in September, netting a late leveller against the former. However, he lasted just 17 minutes against the latter before being forced off with an ankle concern.
How Do Liverpool Replace Isak, Gakpo?
Iraola faces a real problem if Isak is ruled out, as Liverpool lack another natural No. 9 in the senior squad. Hugo Ekitiké remains on the sidelines with the Achilles injury he sustained in April that also cost him a place at the 2026 World Cup. Gakpo would normally be a viable option to fill in at centre-forward, but he too may miss the match.
In the only match this season where Isak didn't start — the Carabao Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sept. 15 — Iraola deployed Lewis Koumas in the No. 9 position.
Koumas, while not unfamiliar with a central role, has spent the bulk of his time at Liverpool and on loan at Hull City, Birmingham City and Stoke City over the past two seasons operating in wide areas — predominantly on the left. Asking the 21-year-old to lead the line against a Manchester City side in blistering form would be a significant challenge, even amid the cloud of the Premier League verdict.
Koumas did come on to replace Isak in the closing minutes against Bournemouth.
Liverpool's only other striking option is academy product Jayden Danns, who is dealing with a suspected hamstring injury. The locally raised 20-year-old — whose presence would help preserve a piece of club history following Curtis Jones's departure in the summer — was named on the bench for the Champions League victory over Atlético Madrid, but his last first-team appearance came over a year ago in the Carabao Cup against Southampton in September 2025.