Liverpool head into their Premier League meeting with Fulham with one notable fitness concern after Cody Gakpo missed the club’s midweek Champions League victory over Atlético Madrid.
The Reds are scheduled to face Fulham on Saturday, September 12, and supporters will be watching closely for the latest team news as Liverpool assess Gakpo’s availability. The Netherlands international has been an important attacking option for the club, making his potential absence a concern for Liverpool manager Arne Slot.
Cody Gakpo the Main Injury Doubt
Gakpo was not involved in Liverpool’s Champions League match against Atlético Madrid after suffering a minor adductor problem.
The issue does not appear to be a serious injury, but it was enough to keep the forward out of the midweek fixture. Liverpool will therefore have to assess his condition before deciding whether he can feature against Fulham.
The latest indications are relatively positive, with the problem described as minor rather than a significant muscle injury. However, Gakpo remains a doubt, meaning Liverpool may have to wait until the final stages of their preparations before his availability is confirmed.
For Liverpool, the timing is particularly important. The club faces a busy run of fixtures, and managing players carefully could be crucial to avoiding more serious injuries later in the season.
Bradley Barcola Injury Update
There was also some concern surrounding new Liverpool signing Bradley Barcola after he was substituted during the Champions League encounter with Atlético Madrid.
However, the initial fears appear to have been eased. The winger’s issue was reportedly down to cramp rather than an injury.
That is encouraging news for Liverpool supporters, particularly given the importance of Barcola to the team’s attacking options. Nevertheless, because he is still building up his fitness and adapting to the demands of English football, Liverpool could potentially manage his workload against Fulham.
Whether Barcola starts or is introduced from the bench could therefore depend on how he responds in training and how Liverpool’s medical team assesses his condition.
Milos Kerkez Also Experienced Cramp
Liverpool also had another fitness concern during the Atlético Madrid game when Milos Kerkez experienced cramp.
Like Barcola, Kerkez’s problem is not believed to represent a significant new injury. The left-back should therefore have a chance of being available for the Fulham match.
His fitness will nevertheless be monitored, particularly because Liverpool’s demanding schedule means players can quickly accumulate fatigue.
Other Liverpool Players Still Unavailable
Gakpo is not the only player dealing with fitness issues at Liverpool.
Federico Chiesa, Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike remain among the players who are unavailable or not yet ready to return to first-team action.
Their absences could influence Slot’s selection against Fulham, particularly with Liverpool needing to balance squad rotation with the demands of the Premier League and European competition.
The situation also gives opportunities to other members of the squad. Liverpool have considerable attacking and defensive depth, but losing several players at the same time can still place additional pressure on those available.
What It Means for Liverpool vs Fulham
Liverpool will be hoping that Gakpo can recover in time to play some part against Fulham. His versatility makes him particularly useful because he can operate across the forward line and provide an additional goal threat.
If he is ruled out, Slot will have to consider alternative attacking combinations. The exact solution could depend on the fitness of the other forwards and how much rotation the manager wants to make following the Champions League fixture.
Barcola’s situation could also be important. Although his cramp is not considered a serious concern, Liverpool may choose not to take unnecessary risks with a player who is still building match fitness.
The good news is that neither Barcola’s nor Kerkez’s issue currently appears to be a major injury setback.
Liverpool Await Final Fitness Decisions
With the Fulham fixture approaching, Liverpool supporters will be waiting for further updates from the club’s training sessions and the manager’s pre-match press conference.
At present, Cody Gakpo is the main Liverpool player in doubt for the Fulham clash, although there is optimism that his minor adductor problem could settle sufficiently for him to be involved.
Barcola and Kerkez have more encouraging fitness situations after their problems against Atlético Madrid were attributed to cramp rather than serious injuries.
Liverpool’s medical team will continue to monitor the squad before the final decision is made.
For now, the key message for Liverpool fans is that Gakpo’s absence from the Atlético Madrid game does not necessarily mean he will miss Fulham. His availability is still to be determined, and the coming training sessions should provide a clearer indication of whether the Dutch forward can return to the matchday squad.
Liverpool face Fulham at Anfield on Saturday, with the Reds looking to maintain their momentum and secure another important Premier League result. All eyes will be on the team news before kick-off, particularly regarding Gakpo and the club’s other fitness concerns.