A nightmare international break for the Reds

International breaks are rarely kind to clubs chasing a title, and this one has been particularly brutal for Liverpool. Andoni Iraola had already seen four first-team players miss the past few weeks through injury before the squad dispersed. He now has fresh concerns over three more after Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Jeremy Jacquet all picked up knocks whilst on duty with their countries. The timing could hardly be worse, with Manchester City arriving at Anfield on Sunday for what was already shaping up to be the standout match of the Premier League weekend, and one that carries even greater edge following City's guilty verdict on all charges related to serious financial rule breaches.

That context means the atmosphere inside Anfield is likely to be electric regardless of what happens before kick-off. But Iraola will want to walk out with as close to a full-strength squad as possible, and right now that is far from guaranteed.

Isak and Jacquet: cautious optimism before Sunday

Isak had been in irresistible form before the break, scoring the only goal in Liverpool's win at Bournemouth to take his Premier League tally to four for the season. He carried that confidence into the international window, opening the scoring for Sweden against Romania, before sustaining a thigh problem during the match. Sweden boss Graham Potter gave a measured assessment of the situation: "He's got a small problem with his thigh. It's not a big one but because of the amount of games we've got in a small space of time, he won't be able to make those. Unfortunately after getting it checked out, it's a little bit more than what you think during the match. He has to miss the rest of the camp."

The fact that Liverpool themselves have described the issue as 'minor' is encouraging, and Iraola is expected to give a fuller update later in the week. Jacquet is in a similar position. The centre-back missed France's 4-1 Nations League win over Belgium with what the French Football Federation called a "strain to his left hamstring". New France boss Zinedine Zidane was reassuring, describing Jacquet as only "slightly injured", and reports that he was seen celebrating on the pitch afterwards will have offered further comfort to supporters. Both players are targeting the City match as their potential return date.

Gakpo doubt as Leoni edges closer to comeback

Of the three new injury concerns, Gakpo's situation looks the most serious. The Dutch forward sustained an ankle injury after a strong challenge from Serbia and Ipswich Town midfielder Sasa Lukic in the Netherlands' second Nations League fixture. New Netherlands head coach Xabi said he was hopeful Gakpo had avoided serious damage, but Dutch journalist Rik Elfrink reported on social media that the Liverpool attacker could be sidelined for "several weeks". Iraola is expected to shed more light on that in the coming days, but if that assessment proves accurate it would be a significant blow, particularly given the volume of fixtures ahead.

On a more positive note, Federico Chiesa, who has yet to feature this season, looks set to provide some attacking cover. Iraola had indicated that Chiesa would return to training around the time of the international break, which points to the Italian potentially being available for selection as soon as Sunday. Meanwhile, Giovanni Leoni is closing in on a return to full training after more than a year out with the ACL injury he suffered on his debut. The hope is that the Italian defender could re-join the main group by mid-October, with a matchday squad appearance perhaps in sight for the Chelsea fixture on 28 October if he is given the all-clear.

The longer road back for Ekitike and Bradley

For two other members of the squad, patience remains the only prescription. Striker Ekitike has been absent since rupturing his Achilles tendon against Paris Saint-Germain back in April, but reports from L'Equipe suggest his dedicated rehabilitation work could see him back in training next month. His long-term target is understood to be a return around Boxing Day, a remarkable turnaround given the seriousness of that particular injury.

Right-back Conor Bradley remains the furthest from a comeback of anyone on the list. The Northern Ireland international suffered an ACL injury back in January, and Iraola was candid when asked about his progress last month: "I think he is not close to training with the team. He's training alone, but he has started touching the ball. Definitely, I want him as quick as possible ready, but it's a long-term injury." There is no timeline being placed on his return just yet, and with Anfield's full attention fixed firmly on Sunday, Bradley will simply have to bide his time. How Iraola manages this squad across the weeks ahead could prove every bit as important as what happens against City.