Liverpool head into the first international break of the season in solid shape after a 1-0 win over Bournemouth, but several key players remain sidelined.
Alexander Isak’s second-half goal secured the points against his former club in Andoni Iraola’s first return to the Vitality Stadium. The result extended Liverpool’s unbeaten run to seven matches across all competitions and gave them back-to-back wins following the 3-1 Carabao Cup victory over Tottenham.
Attention now turns to the three-week international window, after which Liverpool host league leaders Manchester City at Anfield on 11 October before travelling to LASK Linz in the Champions League.
Here is the latest on the club’s injury list.
Hugo Ekitike
The French striker has not played since rupturing his right Achilles tendon against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final second leg at Anfield in April. He missed the end of last season and the World Cup.
Recovery from the injury was originally projected at nine to 12 months, pointing to a return window between January and April 2027. Ekitike has been posting progress on social media, including footage of indoor ball work.
Iraola included him in the Champions League squad list, citing a realistic chance he could feature in the final two league-phase games in January (against Inter Milan and Lens).
“It’s difficult with these long-term injuries and I think he’s still far [away],” Iraola said. “There is a reasonable chance that he could help us in the last two games of the group stages… It’s still very early to say because it’s a long-term injury and a big part of the rehab is still to meet.”
Potential return: January 2027
Conor Bradley
The Northern Ireland captain underwent surgery on bone and ligament damage in his left knee sustained against Arsenal in January.
Iraola’s most recent update confirmed Bradley is not yet close to full team training: “He is training alone but he has started touching the ball… He has a road a little bit ahead of him and it is going to take some time.”
Bradley is understood to be slightly behind Giovanni Leoni in his recovery.
Potential return: November or December
Federico Chiesa
The Italian forward has yet to make a competitive appearance under Iraola after sustaining a muscle injury in his back during a pre-season friendly against Como. He missed the opening seven matches of the season and was unavailable for the Bournemouth game.
With three additional weeks available during the international break, the club is hopeful he can return for the Manchester City match.
Potential return: 11 October vs Manchester City (H)
Giovanni Leoni
The defender suffered an ACL tear in his left knee on his Anfield debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup after joining from Parma last summer. A full year on the sidelines was expected and has largely materialised.
Leoni has made strong progress in rehabilitation and is currently ahead of Bradley. A return in October or November is possible.
Potential return: November
Joe Gomez returned to the squad for the Bournemouth match after a muscle issue and came through unscathed. Liverpool otherwise appear to have avoided any fresh injury concerns from the weekend.
