Andoni Iraola remains uncertain whether Cody Gakpo will be available for Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Fulham on Saturday.
The Dutch forward picked up an adductor issue during last week’s win over Ipswich and was left out of Wednesday night’s Champions League victory over Atlético Madrid as a precaution. There were a couple of minor injury scares during the 2-1 win over Diego Simeone’s side, but Iraola confirmed afterwards that Bradley Barcola was withdrawn purely because of cramp.
Iraola is still sweating on Gakpo’s fitness and is hoping the 27-year-old will be passed fit for the weekend.
Iraola uncertain about Gakpo’s availability
Asked whether Gakpo would be back for Saturday, the head coach said (via liverpoolfc.com):
“I don’t know. I hope so, but I don’t know. He doesn’t have a proper injury, but he finished with niggles in both of the adductors the other day.
“We expected to have him for today, [but] it hasn’t been possible. It’s not a big thing, but the problem is we play here in two days and a half.
“I think now is a moment of recovery in these two days. Let’s see how Bradley has finished, how Cody is [and] if he can give us some minutes. If not, Rio [Ngumoha], Victor [Muñoz]… I think today everyone has done a big effort.
“We need to recover, we need to regroup and think because in two days and a half we play again here [against] Fulham. It’s a very important game again for us, so I hope we can have Cody with us, but I cannot guarantee it.”
Caution likely with Gakpo
With Gakpo’s participation in doubt, Iraola would have been concerned when Barcola went down an hour into the Atlético game. Fortunately the 24-year-old was only suffering from cramp.
The new signing is still building match fitness after his first start since representing France at the World Cup. Prior to Wednesday he had played just 26 minutes of football since then (as a substitute against Ipswich).
Gakpo remains touch-and-go for Fulham, and with a quick turnaround to face Tottenham in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, Iraola may prefer to err on the side of caution.
Liverpool would benefit from having Gakpo available sooner rather than later given his strong start to the season (one goal and three assists in three appearances). The head coach will also be carefully managing Barcola’s minutes after a limited pre-season.
Here’s hoping both players receive the all-clear for Saturday so the Reds can field a full attacking options — aside from the already confirmed absences of Hugo Ekitiké and Federico Chiesa.
