Liverpool have not ruled Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexander Isak or Cody Gakpo out of Saturday’s visit to Brentford, but none has a confirmed return date. Reports on Thursday indicated that Andoni Iraola would assess the trio over two further training sessions before deciding whether they could feature on October 17.
All three missed the defeat by Manchester City and the subsequent 6-3 Champions League victory over LASK. Ryan Gravenberch’s suspension now adds another selection problem, making the distinction between being available for the squad and being ready to start particularly important.
Szoboszlai’s fitness carries extra weight
Szoboszlai has been absent with hamstring tightness attributed to an excessive workload. According to the injury reporting, he attempted to continue training through the problem before missing the trip to Austria.
Saturday remains a possible comeback date rather than an established recovery deadline. Iraola’s decision to leave the possibility open does not establish how much training the midfielder has completed or whether he could manage a full match.
His availability matters beyond simply restoring an experienced player. With Gravenberch suspended following his dismissal against City, Liverpool have less room to redistribute midfield duties. Trey Nyoni is expected to remain involved if Szoboszlai cannot return, while Alexis Mac Allister provides a senior option alongside him.
The reports are inconsistent over Mac Allister’s recent role. One says he started and completed the LASK match; another describes him as returning to the starting side at Brentford. That discrepancy prevents a firm conclusion about the precise rotation plan, although both accounts place him in the midfield picture.
Szoboszlai would also offer an alternative further forward, where Florian Wirtz is expected to continue behind the striker. His return could therefore change both the personnel and the balance of the side, rather than amounting to a straightforward replacement for Gravenberch.
Isak and Gakpo face separate assessments
Isak returned early from Sweden duty with a thigh injury described by his international manager as minor. Gakpo’s absence followed an ankle problem sustained while representing the Netherlands against Serbia.
Both could potentially return against Brentford, but the available reports provide no confirmation that either has resumed unrestricted training. Their shared absence should not obscure the fact that they are recovering from different injuries and may reach match readiness at different times.
For Isak, the key selection question is whether he can resume the central attacking role. Lewis Koumas has taken that opportunity during his absence and scored his first Champions League goal against LASK. If Isak remains unavailable, the youngster is expected to lead the attack again.
Gakpo’s situation intersects with Bradley Barcola’s encouraging midweek performance. Barcola scored a hat-trick in Austria, giving Liverpool an attacking option in form while the Dutchman recovers. That reduces the immediate need to force a change on the left, without making Gakpo’s availability any less valuable across the forthcoming schedule.
The LASK result demonstrated that Liverpool can score without their missing forwards. It did not establish that the same attacking arrangement will work equally well against Brentford. Nor should six goals distract from the three conceded: the match offered evidence of attacking depth, not proof that the team’s wider balance is settled.
Brentford is only the first decision
Liverpool’s trip to west London is followed by home matches against Villarreal, Brighton, Chelsea and Arsenal. That sequence gives the fitness decisions a broader context than Saturday’s starting XI.
A player fit enough for a substitute appearance at Brentford might still require protection before the next fixture. Equally, leaving someone out this weekend would not necessarily imply a lengthy further absence. The unresolved issue is not simply whether the trio can play, but what workload each can safely absorb.
Iraola has signalled that changes will be needed across successive matches. Nyoni and Koumas therefore remain relevant even if senior players return; their involvement need not end as soon as the injury list shortens.
Longer-term absences remain
Giovanni Leoni, Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley are not presented as options for Brentford. Leoni’s recovery from a serious knee injury has taken longer than planned, with his anticipated return to team training moved towards the next international break. December is reported as a possible playing return, not a confirmed date.
Bradley also has December listed as a potential comeback following knee damage, although the reporting offers no firm timetable for full training. Ekitike’s recovery from an Achilles rupture carries a possible January 2027 return.
For Saturday, the immediate picture is narrower: Gravenberch is suspended, three important players remain doubtful, and Liverpool’s final training sessions will determine whether Iraola can expand his options.