Iraola Provides Injury Update on Barcola and Gakpo Before Fulham Match
Iraola delivers mixed injury news on Barcola and Gakpo before Fulham visit
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has eased fears over Bradley Barcola but admitted Cody Gakpo remains a doubt ahead of Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Fulham at Anfield.
The Reds host the winless Cottagers in a 3pm kick-off, looking to extend their unbeaten start to the league campaign and build on their dramatic midweek comeback against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
Barcola scare downplayed
Barcola, Liverpool’s £123 million summer signing, sparked concern on Wednesday night when he was withdrawn on the hour mark of the 2-1 victory over Atletico with what looked like a physical problem.
Any anxiety over a serious setback has been quickly cooled.
“We still need to train this afternoon, but Barcola was just cramps, he finished the game tired so we have to evaluate but there's no injury. He should be available if everything goes normal,” Iraola said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
The France international, already central to Liverpool’s attacking play, is now expected to be in contention to start against Fulham, provided he comes through the final session without issue.
Gakpo race against time
The news on Gakpo is less clear.
The Dutch forward missed the win over Atletico entirely after suffering an adductor problem against Ipswich Town last week. His status for Fulham is finely balanced.
“Cody we will see. He did not train yesterday, so today we will try with him and let's see if he's ready for tomorrow or we need to wait until the next one,” Iraola explained.
Gakpo’s potential absence would sting. The Netherlands international has opened the season in sharp form, with one goal and three assists in Liverpool’s first three league fixtures, giving Iraola a potent, flexible option across the front line.
If he fails to make it, Liverpool’s depth will be tested again as they juggle domestic demands with a heavyweight Champions League group.
Long road back for Ekitike
Hugo Ekitike remains on a far longer timeline.
The striker ruptured his Achilles in April and is not expected to be fully recovered before January at the earliest. Iraola outlined both the caution and the quiet optimism around the Frenchman’s rehabilitation.
“Hugo, it's difficult with these long-term injuries,” he said. “He's still far. But we had a meeting with all the department to analyse and complete the list of European games and there's a small chance he could play in the last two games of the group stages, but it's too early to say. It's a big injury.
“But if we decided to put him there, it is because there's a hope and a realistic chance he could help us in January.”
Liverpool head into the Fulham clash unbeaten, with Barcola likely available, Gakpo pushing to prove his fitness, and Ekitike pencilled in as a possible mid-season boost. For a squad chasing trophies on multiple fronts, how those three stories unfold could shape far more than just one weekend at Anfield.
