Liverpool Injury Crisis Before Manchester City Clash as Andoni Iraola Weighs Striker Options

Liverpool go into Sunday’s meeting with Manchester City carrying a problem that matters more than noise, more than atmosphere, more than whatever edge Anfield will generate. The issue is up front. Andoni Iraola could be without two key attackers, and that changes the shape of the game immediately.

The backdrop is obvious enough. City arrive at Anfield after being found guilty on all 115 charges tied to Premier League financial regulations. That guarantees hostility. It also guarantees focus. Liverpool will want to make the afternoon miserable for Enzo Maresca’s side, and the crowd will do its part. The harder task sits with Iraola, who has to find enough attacking threat if his forward line is depleted.

Frontline injuries leave Liverpool short

The headline concern is simple. Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak both pulled out of international duty, and Iraola has confirmed that “both are injured”. Gakpo is dealing with an ankle issue, Isak has a thigh problem, and neither absence can be brushed aside.

Gakpo has been one of Liverpool’s sharpest attacking players this season, so losing him would remove direct running, composure and goals. Isak is an even bigger tactical concern because Liverpool’s alternatives through the middle are limited. With Hugo Ekitike already out for the longer term, Iraola could be left without a recognised senior centre-forward for one of the biggest fixtures of the campaign.

There is also an issue in defence. Jeremy Jacquet missed France’s final Nations League game against Belgium because of a tight hamstring. His availability remains uncertain, which may force Iraola to consider Ronald Araujo or Joe Gomez alongside Virgil van Dijk. That matters, but the more urgent puzzle remains in the final third.

Alexander Isak absence creates tactical problem

If Isak does not make it, Liverpool lose their clearest focal point. That is where this becomes awkward. Wide areas are manageable enough. Bradley Barcola, Victor Munoz and Rio Ngumoha all offer options if Gakpo is unavailable, and Jeremie Frimpong can be pushed further forward on the right if necessary.

Centre-forward is different. Barcola and Munoz can be used through the middle, but both are adaptations rather than natural fits. Florian Wirtz as a false 9 is another possibility, and one that would give Liverpool more technical control between the lines, though less penalty-box presence. Lewis Koumas has already started there against Tottenham in the EFL Cup, so he is in the conversation too.

None of those solutions is perfect. They are workarounds. Against City, where margins are small and transitions are ruthless, workarounds can quickly look flimsy.

Will Wright could enter the conversation

That is why attention has shifted towards 18-year-old Will Wright. The academy striker has yet to make a senior appearance, but his form for the Under-21s has pushed him closer to first-team involvement. At 6ft 4in, he offers something Liverpool otherwise may not have available, a genuine physical reference point, a player who can occupy centre-backs and hold the ball when the game turns scrappy.

His Under-21 manager, Robert Page, summed him up clearly: “Will is a proper striker. He loves a battle and he is all for the battle. He grinds the opposition defenders down.” Page also added, “For his goal, I thought it was a great first touch and a great finish. I’m really pleased for him because of all the work and effort he puts in. He deserves his rewards.”

That profile has value, particularly from the bench. Throwing him straight into the starting side against Manchester City would be a major gamble. Including him among the substitutes would be far more realistic, especially if Isak is ruled out fully.

Anfield test demands clarity from Iraola

This is where Iraola earns his money. Injury crises are part of the job. The important part is avoiding confusion. Liverpool do not need a clever story on Sunday, they need a clear plan. If Gakpo and Isak miss out, the choice is between improvising with mobility and technical quality, or introducing a young striker who gives the side a direct outlet late on.

Anfield will supply intensity. The occasion will take care of itself. The real question is whether Liverpool can carry enough threat without key forwards. If they cannot, this becomes a far more complicated afternoon than it looked a week ago.