Liverpool go into the international break in good form, though Andoni Iraola still has several key players working their way back from injury. A 1-0 win over Bournemouth, settled by an Alexander Isak goal, stretched the Reds’ unbeaten run to seven games in all competitions. After the break they host Manchester City at Anfield on October 11, then travel to LASK in the Champions League.
Hugo Ekitike is the longest-term absentee, having ruptured his Achilles against Paris Saint-Germain in April. He missed the end of last season and the start of this one, with the original recovery estimate set at nine to twelve months. He has been posting encouraging rehab updates, including clips of him working with a ball indoors, and Liverpool have named him in their Champions League squad. Iraola has hinted he could help the team in January, though he admits there is still a long way to go. Expected return: January 2027.
Conor Bradley is recovering from the serious left knee injury, involving bone and ligament damage, that he suffered against Arsenal in January and needed surgery for. The Northern Ireland international has begun training with the ball but is still working alone and is some way from joining full team sessions. Iraola has cautioned that much of his rehabilitation remains, and he is thought to be slightly behind Giovanni Leoni. Expected return: November or December.
Federico Chiesa has yet to play a competitive game under Iraola, having picked up a back muscle problem in pre-season. He has missed all seven of Liverpool’s matches so far, including the Bournemouth win. The three-week break may give him enough time to recover, and the club will hope to have him back for the City game. Expected return: October 11 vs Manchester City.
Giovanni Leoni tore his left ACL on his Anfield debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup, and was first expected to be out for around a year. His rehab has gone well, and he is believed to be ahead of Bradley. A comeback in October or November has been floated as possible, but Liverpool will be wary of rushing him. Expected return: November.
There was good news on Joe Gomez, who returned from a muscle issue against Bournemouth and finished the game without problems. That means Liverpool seem to have avoided any fresh injury worries from the weekend, and they will hope the treatment room keeps emptying before City arrive.
