Jacquet boost for Liverpool but Iraola admits Isak and Gakpo still injured
Liverpool have had a boost at centre-back ahead of Sunday's meeting with Manchester City, but Andoni Iraola has admitted that two of his key forwards are still injured.
'Right now they are both injured'
Speaking to beIN Sports this week, Iraola confirmed that Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo both had to leave their national teams with injuries. He said it was now a question of whether they would recover in time, but that at the moment both were injured.
Isak withdrew from Sweden's squad with a thigh problem described as minor, while Gakpo hurt his ankle playing for the Netherlands against Serbia. Some reports have suggested Gakpo could be out for several weeks, although Liverpool have not given a timescale.
Jacquet back in training
There was better news on Jeremy Jacquet. The defender missed France's win over Belgium on Monday with a strain to his left hamstring, but according to Liverpool.com, he was pictured working in the gym and then training on the pitch with his team-mates when Liverpool returned on Thursday. That appears to ease the immediate concern over his availability.
Iraola is due to give a fuller update at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
Iraola on City's threat
Iraola was clear about the size of the task. Liverpool are unbeaten this season, but City have won every league game. He said that difference matters, and that his side would need to be very good to beat opponents who have been scoring plenty of goals.
He added that Liverpool knew the dangerous names in City's side, but pointed to recent defensive improvements and said he hoped his team could contain those threats while hurting City at the other end. He also mentioned the 2-2 draw at Newcastle as an example of a game where Liverpool played well but conceded in transition.
Haaland expected to be fit
City's own fitness concerns appear to have eased. Erling Haaland limped off during Norway's defeat to Portugal last Sunday, but The Times has reported that he was suffering from fatigue rather than injury and is expected to be available.
The stage is set
The match kicks off at 15:30 Ghana time on Sunday. It is City's first game since an independent commission found them guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules, a ruling the club is appealing. For Liverpool, a win would end City's perfect start and announce Iraola's side as genuine title contenders.
Photo: David Dixon / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0