Andoni Iraola Confirms Isak, Gakpo and Szoboszlai Miss Liverpool vs Man City

Liverpool hosted Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, October 11, 2026, dealing with critical squad absences. Manager Andoni Iraola faced the league leaders without injured forwards Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo, alongside last-minute midfield concerns over Dominik Szoboszlai.

Andoni Iraola Confronts Stretched Squad Against Manchester City

Sunday’s Premier League fixture brought heavy pressure to Anfield as Andoni Iraola prepared his side for a clash with the table-leading visitors. Liverpool entered the weekend in sixth place following an unbeaten start under their Spanish boss, accumulating two wins and three draws across their opening five fixtures. However, the international break dealt a severe blow to the home side’s attacking options.

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Iraola confirmed ahead of kick-off that both Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo were sidelined due to injuries picked up while representing their national teams. Isak sustained a thigh injury while playing for Sweden against Romania, while Gakpo suffered an ankle injury on duty for the Netherlands against Serbia. The absences removed Liverpool’s leading scorer, who had netted four goals in his first five league games, and their top assist provider from the matchday squad.

“Alex Isak and Cody Gakpo will not play the game. They are not ready. Unfortunately for us, both got injuries during the international break.”

Andoni Iraola, Liverpool Manager

The club monitored both players on a day-to-day basis, noting that neither injury was expected to be long-term. In their absence, twenty-one-year-old Wales forward Lewis Koumas stepped into the starting lineup to lead the attack alongside Bradley Barcola, Rio Ngumoha, and Victor Muñoz.

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Dominik Szoboszlai Absent Following Late Hamstring Overload

Compounding the manager’s selection problems, midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai was a late omission from the matchday squad at Anfield. The Hungarian international returned from international duty carrying an overload and a tight hamstring after appearing in all four of his country’s UEFA Nations League matches.

“Another one coming from the international games. He came with an overload, he felt a tight hamstring. He’s tried somehow, kind of pushing through training, but he was not feeling 100 per cent and we will have to wait for Dom, yes.”

Andoni Iraola, Liverpool Manager

Szoboszlai’s absence forced further adjustments into a midfield department that also faced questions regarding the availability of Alexis Mac Allister, who returned from international duty with Argentina. With injuries mounting across the squad, the hosts had to shuffle their resources against an opponent arriving with a flawless domestic record.

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Manchester City Arrive Under Financial Cloud and Perfect Record

Manchester City traveled to Merseyside as the only side in the division holding a 100% record after winning their first five league fixtures. Enzo Maresca’s side entered the match following a 5-3 victory over Sunderland in late September, though the club faced an intense spotlight on their first outing since an independent commission found them guilty of more than 100 Premier League financial rules breaches.

The visitors featured Erling Haaland, who led the Premier League scoring charts alongside Isak. Maresca confirmed before the match that the Norwegian striker was fully fit after taking a brief break in Marbella following Norway’s fixture against Portugal.

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Manchester City Capitalize on Gravenberch Red Card

Supported by a vocal Anfield crowd executing a traditional pre-match bus greeting, Liverpool held their ground during a competitive first hour. Iraola noted that the fixture split into two distinct halves, praising his players for matching the visitors’ intensity and winning individual duels during the opening sixty minutes.

The momentum shifted when Ryan Gravenberch received a second yellow card in the 62nd minute for tripping Jeremy Doku. Operating with a man advantage, Manchester City capitalized immediately, securing goals through Haaland, Doku, and Rayan Cherki to claim control of the fixture.

Andoni Iraola Confirms Isak, Gakpo and Szoboszlai Miss Liverpool vs Man City — Photo: Sports Illustrated

“I think the first part is that we played two different games. One until the red card, and then after. For 60 minutes, the players were very good. The second game from the red card was where City were better than us.”

Andoni Iraola, Liverpool Manager

While Gravenberch’s domestic suspension applied to upcoming fixtures, his dismissal did not prevent him from traveling for Liverpool’s subsequent Champions League fixture against LASK in Austria.

Tactical Approaches and Strategic Anxieties Under the Spotlight

As Andoni Iraola attempts to implement a style of play that brought him great success at Bournemouth, his tenure at Liverpool has encountered several tests against top-tier opposition. The Basque manager has sought the correct balance in front of the defence, a quest that produced three consecutive Premier League clean sheets prior to the Manchester City encounter. These defensive performances allowed the team to protect their box more effectively and move the ball forward with greater speed on counter-attacks.

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Despite defensive improvements, the club’s midfield balance and attacking output remain subjects of intense debate among analysts and former players.

Wirtz has faced immense pressure while falling short of expectations in his opening appearances for the Merseyside club. Commenting on the ongoing dilemma regarding the German international, Sky Sports analysts and pundits have questioned his suitability for high-intensity fixtures, though Wirtz reinforced his pedigree by scoring for his national team on his first start under Jürgen Klopp during the international break.

CONFIRMED! Andoni Iraola breaks silence on Gakpo and Isak AND provokes Manchester City

Alongside tactical discussions regarding Wirtz, analysts have pointed to the heavy demands of a condensed fixture list. Following the confrontation with Manchester City, Liverpool face a punishing schedule featuring clashes against elite domestic opponents and demanding European fixtures within brief turnarounds of two to three days. This rigorous period will evaluate the depth of a squad currently dealing with injuries to key contributors.

Historical Context at Anfield and Upcoming Fixtures

Historical data underline the magnitude of trips to Anfield for Manchester City, who have historically managed only three victories in 29 Premier League visits to the stadium. While contemporary form tables and financial rule disputes framed the build-up, encounters on Merseyside have frequently defied expectations, recalling historic fixtures such as Brendan Rodgers’ strikerless victory over City in March 2015.

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Following Sunday’s bruising encounter, Liverpool retain minimal time for recovery before resuming their continental campaign. The squad is scheduled to fly to Austria for a Champions League meeting with LASK, where the traveling party will likely mirror the group forced to contend with Manchester City’s late surge. With domestic suspensions and injury rehabilitation governing squad availability, Iraola’s ability to maximize his remaining resources will determine the club’s momentum through the autumn schedule.