Iraola confirms Liverpool will be without Isak and Gakpo for derby with City
Iraola said the injuries rule out both forwards; Barcola and Kumas likely to step up for Sunday’s 17:30 kick-off.
Liverpool manager Iraola confirmed on Friday that the squad will be significantly weakened for the weekend’s headline Premier League fixture against Manchester City: both Isak and Gakpo are unavailable due to injury.
Attack options slimmed down
According to Iraola’s statement at the pre-match press conference, the injuries are not believed to be serious, but they rule out the two main forwards for the derby. That leaves Liverpool short in the attacking department ahead of the high-profile clash.
With Isak and Gakpo sidelined, Iraola is expected to rely on less-used alternatives such as Bradley Barcola and Luis Kumas to lead the line. Both players have seen limited minutes recently but are now in line for more prominent roles.
The match is scheduled for Sunday with a 17:30 kick-off. Team selection and tactical adjustments are likely to reflect the absence of the first-choice attackers.
Earlier reports also noted that Rafinha did not train with the team and will miss the upcoming match against Getafe.
Photo: press material from the event
