Cody Gakpo remains an injury doubt for Liverpool’s Premier League game against Fulham this weekend.
Liverpool host Fulham at Anfield on Saturday but could be without the Dutchman, who has a goal and three assists in three Premier League appearances this season.
Gakpo has been unable to train this week due to an adductor injury and the27-year-old missed Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Speaking on Friday, Andoni Iraola admitted Gakpo could be absent for the match against Fulham but believes summer signing Bradley Barcola will be available after he suffered from cramp in the second half of the victory against Atletico at Anfield.
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‘We still need to train, we train this afternoon,’ Iraola said on Friday.
‘But Barcola was just cramps. Obviously, we finish the game and we have to evaluate how he feels today but there is no injury. He should be, I think, available if everything goes normal.
‘Cody we will see. 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.’
Iraola also revealed that Hugo Ekitike could return from his ACL injury in January.
‘I think it’s difficult with these long-term injuries, I think he’s still far,’ Iraola said.
‘But we had a meeting with the medical department to analyse when we completed the [squad] list for the European games. There is a reasonable chance that he could help us in the last two games of the group stages.
‘But it’s still very early to say. It’s very early because it’s a long-term injury, a big part of the rehab 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.’
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