Cody Gakpo's Fitness Update Ahead of Liverpool vs Fulham
Andoni Iraola is braced for another anxious wait over Cody Gakpo as Liverpool prepare to welcome Alvaro Arbeloa’s Fulham back to Anfield.
The Dutch forward missed Wednesday night’s win over Atletico Madrid with what Iraola called “adductor issues” and remains a major doubt for the Premier League clash.
Gakpo did not train on Thursday. Liverpool will give him every chance in their final session, but Iraola admitted the clock is ticking.
“[With] Cody, we will see,” the head coach said. “He didn't train yesterday. Today, we will try with him and let's see if he's ready for tomorrow or we need to wait for the next one.”
Barcola boost after cramp scare
There is better news on Bradley Barcola. The winger, who impressed on his full debut against Atletico before being forced off in the second half, is expected to be fit.
Iraola moved quickly to calm fears after that enforced substitution, explaining it was fatigue rather than a serious setback.
“We still need to train [on Friday],” he said. “But, yes, Barcola was just cramps.
“Obviously he finished tight in the game and then we have to evaluate with how are things today – but there's no injury. He should be available if everything goes normal.”
Defensive options are slowly returning too. Joe Gomez is edging closer to involvement after a muscle problem suffered in pre-season, while Federico Chiesa continues his own rehabilitation and is not yet ready to feature.
Ekitike’s long road back
Ekitike’s situation is the most complex. The forward is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, and Liverpool are treading carefully.
“I think it's difficult with these long-term injuries, I think he's still far [away],” Iraola said.
The club have at least sketched out a possible timeline. During meetings with the medical staff to finalise their European squad list, a small window of hope emerged.
“There is a reasonable chance that he could help us in the last two games of the group stages,” Iraola revealed. “But it's still very early to say. It's very early because it's a long-term injury [and] a big part of the rehab [he] is still to meet.
“But if we decide to put him there, it is because there is a hope and there is a realistic chance that he could help us in January.”
Fulham near full strength for emotional return
On the opposite bench, Arbeloa brings a near full-strength Fulham to the ground where he played 98 times between 2007 and 2009. The only expected absentee is Tom Cairney, sidelined with a knee injury.
“We have to wait until the last training session,” Arbeloa said. “But just Tom [is currently out injured] and we will see after the training session if everyone is ready.”
For Arbeloa, this is more than another away day. He has been back to Anfield as a Real Madrid player. This time, he walks out as a Premier League head coach still hunting his first points with the Cottagers.
“It will be so special,” he admitted. “I went back when I was a Real Madrid player but now it's my first time as a coach. Anfield will always be a special place for me.
“We have a massive game for us and we have been working really hard this week. We know that we have to improve and we need to adjust some parts of our game.”
Form and fine margins
Liverpool arrive on the back of a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid on September 9, with Iraola fielding Alisson, Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Barcola, Wirtz, Ngumoha and Isak.
Fulham, by contrast, are still stewing over a 3-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace on September 5, when Leno, Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson, Charles, Iwobi, Bobb, King, Palacios and Garcia could not quite salvage a point.
Anfield will greet a familiar face in Arbeloa and a Liverpool side still nursing bodies back to full fitness. Whether Gakpo can join them on the pitch or watches from the bench may say plenty about how Iraola chooses to manage risk in a season that is only just beginning to tighten.
