Liverpool have suffered another attacking injury setback, with Cody Gakpo expected to be sidelined for several weeks after suffering an ankle injury during international duty with the Netherlands.
Gakpo was forced off early in the Netherlands’ 2–1 victory over Serbia after a strong challenge from Serbian midfielder Saša Lukić. He initially tried to continue but was clearly limping and was eventually substituted.
Liverpool later confirmed that Gakpo had withdrawn from the Netherlands squad and would return to Merseyside for further assessment by the club’s medical team. He was therefore ruled out of the Netherlands’ remaining international fixtures.
The injury is particularly frustrating for Liverpool because Gakpo had made an excellent start to the 2026/27 season. According to the report, he had contributed six goals and assists in his first six appearances across the Premier League and Carabao Cup and had developed a strong understanding with Alexander Isak.
How many games could Gakpo miss?
The initial assessment suggested that Gakpo could be out for around three weeks, although his exact recovery time remained dependent on further medical assessment.
If the three-week estimate proved accurate, the Liverpool winger was expected to miss:
* Liverpool vs Manchester City — October 11
* LASK vs Liverpool — October 14
* Brentford vs Liverpool — October 17
There was also a possibility that Gakpo could be a doubt for Liverpool’s Champions League fixture against Villarreal, scheduled just three days after the Brentford game.
The Manchester City match is the biggest concern. Liverpool are already dealing with fitness issues involving other attacking players, meaning Gakpo’s absence could leave new head coach Andoni Iraola with fewer options for the huge Premier League clash.
Opportunity for Munoz and Ngumoha
Gakpo’s injury could create an opportunity for Victor Muñoz and Rio Ngumoha to receive more playing time.
The report suggests Bradley Barcola and Lewis Koumas could be among the leading options in attack, while Muñoz or Ngumoha could be given the chance to fill the remaining attacking position.
For the youngsters, it could be a major opportunity to impress Iraola and demonstrate that they deserve more regular first-team minutes.
