The headline concern: Ekitike still a long way from the pitch

Hugo Ekitike has been out since suffering an Achilles injury back in April, and there is no imminent light at the end of the tunnel. Manager Andoni Iraola has made clear the striker is still deep in his recovery, telling reporters earlier this month: "It is difficult with long-term injuries. He is still far [away from returning]."

The reason Liverpool included Ekitike in their Champions League squad is a hopeful one rather than a practical one right now. Iraola elaborated: "We had a meeting with the medical department, and there is a reasonable chance that he could help us in the last two games of the group stages, but it is still very early. There is still a big part of a rehab to go, but we put him in the squad because there is a hope and realistic chance that he could help us in January." January, then, is the target, and even that comes with caveats.

Leoni and Bradley: two ACL recoveries at very different stages

Giovanni Leoni is the more encouraging story of the two. The defender suffered an ACL injury on his debut in the Carabao Cup back in September of last year and is now in the final stages of his rehabilitation. Iraola indicated earlier this month that the upcoming international break, which will keep Liverpool out of action for three weeks, could prove timely for Leoni's comeback. "I think the next one probably should be Giovanni," the manager said. "I think the plan is also to start training during the break, with the group." If that goes to plan, the home Premier League fixture against Manchester City on 11 October could realistically be his target return date.

Conor Bradley's situation is less defined. The Northern Ireland international suffered his own ACL injury back in January and is still working through his recovery. No timeframe has been given by the club for when he might return to training, let alone to competitive football. It is a waiting game, and Liverpool are not putting a date on it yet.

Chiesa still unavailable as Iraola manages a depleted squad

Federico Chiesa adds another name to a list that has been a constant companion for Iraola throughout the season so far. The Italy international has yet to pull on a Liverpool shirt in a competitive match after picking up an injury in the latter stages of pre-season, and he will not be available against Bournemouth on Sunday either. An exact return date remains unclear.

Iraola heads to the Vitality Stadium, then, in what will be his first match against his former club, with a squad that is still not at full strength. Liverpool go into the fixture off the back of a 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur in midweek, following a goalless Premier League draw with Fulham the weekend before. Three points on the south coast before the international break would do nicely, and the hope will be that a fuller squad awaits on the other side of it.