Cody Gakpo has withdrawn from the Netherlands national team squad due to an ankle injury, further complicating Liverpool‘s growing list of fitness concerns. The winger sustained the injury during the first half of his country’s 2-1 victory over Serbia in the Nations League on Sunday and is set to return to Liverpool for a detailed evaluation.
Although Netherlands coach Xavi Hernandez expressed optimism after the match, suggesting that Gakpo might have escaped a serious setback, subsequent reports indicate that the player could be sidelined for several weeks. Liverpool confirmed on Monday that Gakpo will miss the final two fixtures of the current international window as he undergoes further medical assessment.
Mounting Injury Woes for Liverpool Ahead of Key Fixtures
This latest injury compounds the challenges facing Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, who is also without striker Alexander Isak. Isak, who netted in Sweden’s 2-1 triumph over Romania on Friday, has pulled out of Sweden’s squad due to a minor injury and will be absent for the remainder of the international break.
With both Gakpo and Isak potentially unavailable for Liverpool’s crucial Premier League clash against Manchester City on October 11, the club faces a looming shortage in attacking options. The situation is further exacerbated by the absence of Hugo Ekitike, sidelined with an Achilles injury, and Federico Chiesa, who has been out since the start of the pre-season.
The accumulation of injuries places Liverpool in a precarious position as they prepare for one of their most challenging fixtures of the season, underscoring the importance of recovery and squad depth in the coming weeks.