Isak and Gakpo doubts for Manchester City clash

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has confirmed that forwards Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo face a race against time to be fit for Sunday's showdown against Manchester City. Both players were forced to withdraw from their respective international camps due to hip and ankle injuries respectively.

Iraola admitted in an interview with beIN SPORTS that the medical staff is still assessing their recovery, but they are currently unavailable. The injury concerns extend to defender Jeremy Jaquet, whose status remains unclear after missing France's recent fixture with a hamstring issue. Meanwhile, Hugo Ekitike remains sidelined with a long-term Achilles injury.

This weekend's encounter represents a significant test for Iraola, as his side looks to maintain their unbeaten start to the season. The game carries extra weight given the recent news surrounding City, who were found guilty of breaching Premier League financial regulations by an independent commission.

We haven't lost, but they have won all their matches, so it means a lot. We need to be very, very good if we want to beat City because they are scoring a lot of goals lately. Andoni Iraola

Iraola is still working to stabilize his tactical system, aiming for a balance between attacking fluidity and defensive solidity. Liverpool currently sit 6th in the table with 9 points from their opening five games, trailing the league leaders by six points.