Iraola Faces Injury Doubts Ahead of Fulham Clash at Anfield
Andoni Iraola is bracing for another European night at Anfield without knowing if one of his key forwards will be able to join him.
Cody Gakpo, missing from Wednesday’s win over Atletico Madrid, remains a major doubt for the clash with Alvaro Arbeloa’s Fulham after what Iraola described as “adductor issues”. The Dutchman did not train on Thursday and faces a late fitness test.
The uncertainty over Gakpo comes with at least one positive twist. Bradley Barcola, forced off in the second half of his full debut in midweek, is expected to be available.
“We still need to train on Friday,” Iraola said at his pre-match press conference. “But, yes, Barcola was just cramps. Obviously he finished tight in the game and then we have to evaluate how things are today – but there's no injury. He should be available if everything goes normal.
“[With] 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.”
That “next one” looms large in a packed schedule, so Iraola will not gamble lightly. Gakpo’s absence against Atletico forced a reshuffle that Liverpool managed to ride out, edging a 2-1 victory with Alisson, Van Dijk and Florian Wirtz among those starting. But the sight of Barcola cramping on his first full outing underlined how thin the margins are this early in the season.
There is at least some relief at the back. Joe Gomez is edging closer to a return from the muscle problem that has sidelined him since pre-season, offering another option in a defence that contained Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk and Kerkez last time out.
Further up the pitch, Federico Chiesa continues his own recovery and will not be rushed. The longer-term picture is even more delicate.
Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni remain out, with Ekitike still working his way back from a ruptured Achilles tendon. Iraola chose his words carefully when asked about the forward’s prospects.
“I think it's difficult with these long-term injuries, I think he's still far [away],” he admitted. “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 [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.”
So Liverpool juggle risk and reward, fitness and ambition, heading into a game that carries a different kind of emotion for the man in the opposite dugout.
Arbeloa’s Anfield return
For Alvaro Arbeloa, this is not just another away day. The Fulham head coach returns to a stadium that shaped his playing career, where he made 98 appearances for Liverpool between 2007 and 2009. He has been back as a Real Madrid player. Coming back as a manager is something else entirely.
“It will be so special,” the Spaniard said. “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.”
He needs more than sentiment. Arbeloa is still chasing his first Premier League points as Fulham boss after a wild 3-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace in their last outing, a game that featured Bernd Leno, Timothy Castagne, Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey and Antonee Robinson in the back line, with Alex Iwobi and Oscar Bobb among those further forward.
This time, at least, his team news is relatively straightforward. Tom Cairney, sidelined with a knee injury, is set to be Fulham’s only absentee for the trip to Merseyside.
“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.”
Fulham arrive knowing they must tighten up defensively and show more control in key moments. Liverpool, fresh from that 2-1 win over Atletico, know that Anfield expects momentum, not excuses.
Between Iraola’s injury puzzles and Arbeloa’s emotional return, one question hangs over the night: who will handle the occasion better when the noise rises and the margin for error disappears?
