Liverpool have suffered another major injury setback, with Dominik Szoboszlai unlikely to return for Wednesday’s Champions League trip to Austria to face LASK.
The Hungarian midfielder was a notable absentee during Liverpool’s disappointing 3-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday. His absence has added to the growing concerns surrounding the Reds’ squad availability at a crucial stage of the season.
Liverpool are already without attacking duo Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo, leaving the team short of experienced options as they prepare for a demanding run of fixtures.
Iraola Delivers Worrying Update on Szoboszlai
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has admitted that bringing back any of the injured players for Wednesday’s European fixture will be difficult.
Szoboszlai reportedly returned from international duty experiencing fatigue and a minor overload issue. Although Liverpool attempted to manage his workload during training, the midfielder was still experiencing discomfort.
Explaining the situation, Iraola said:
“Dom came from the national team [with] tiredness, overload.”
He explained that the club had tried to protect the midfielder during training but remained concerned about his condition.
With Liverpool scheduled to travel to Austria shortly before the match, the manager is not optimistic about having his injured players available.
Iraola also stressed the difficulty of managing the situation with four matches scheduled across just 10 days.
Isak and Gakpo Also Remain Unavailable
Szoboszlai is not the only concern for Liverpool.
Alexander Isak suffered a thigh injury while representing Sweden during the international break, while Cody Gakpo picked up an ankle injury during international duty with the Netherlands.
Both players missed the Manchester City match, and their availability for the Champions League trip remains uncertain.
Isak’s absence is particularly frustrating because Liverpool need attacking consistency during this demanding period. Gakpo’s injury further reduces the manager’s options in the forward line.
Although the injuries are not all considered long-term, their timing presents a significant challenge for the club.
Liverpool Face a Demanding Run of Fixtures
Liverpool have little time to recover from their defeat to Manchester City, with several important matches approaching.
The Reds are scheduled to face LASK in the Champions League on October 14 before travelling to play Brentford in the Premier League on October 17.
They are then due to face Villarreal on October 20, making squad rotation and player fitness particularly important.
Without several key players, Liverpool could be forced to rely on younger squad members and alternative tactical arrangements to maintain their competitiveness.
Can Liverpool Cope Without Their Key Players?
Liverpool’s defeat to Manchester City exposed some of the difficulties the team faces when important players are unavailable.
Losing Szoboszlai, Isak and Gakpo simultaneously limits the manager’s options in midfield and attack. Their absence also increases the responsibility on the remaining senior players to deliver consistent performances.
The immediate priority will be to avoid aggravating existing injuries while keeping the team competitive across domestic and European competitions.
Liverpool supporters will now be hoping that the injured trio can return soon, although the latest update suggests that patience may be required.
For now, Liverpool must prepare for the possibility of another match without three important players as the club attempts to recover from its heavy defeat to Manchester City.
LIVERPOOL FANS, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Can Liverpool cope with the absence of Szoboszlai, Isak and Gakpo during this crucial run of fixtures?
