Liverpool Face Inter Milan Challenge With Key Absences

Liverpool head into their Champions League tie against Inter Milan with injuries casting a long shadow over Arne Slot’s preparations. The manager, who guided Liverpool to the Premier League title in 2024-25, has confirmed that Cody Gakpo will miss several matches, while Federico Chiesa remains a late fitness concern. With a trimmed squad and difficult choices ahead, this fixture is arriving at a demanding moment.

Slot revealed that Gakpo “unfortunately picked up an injury in our last game we played against Leeds and he will be out for a few weeks,” a setback that disrupts Liverpool’s rhythm in attack. The Dutch forward has been central to the manager’s evolving system, and the timing of the injury limits Liverpool’s options at a critical stage of the competition.

Injury Concerns Around Arne Slot’s Squad

The manager is travelling with a 19-man group that includes three goalkeepers and emerging centre back Wellity Lucky. Mo Salah has not been included, and the absence of senior players means Liverpool approach Milan with a stripped back bench.

Training sessions on Monday were noticeable for those missing. Gakpo, Chiesa and Wataru Endo were all absent, leaving Slot to adjust both his tactical plan and the balance of the squad. For a fixture that demands precision and composure, the timing is far from ideal.

When discussing Chiesa, who has stayed in Liverpool due to illness, Slot admitted the situation is unpredictable. “Federico is ill, so that is poor timing you could say, but yeah, it’s not something you can do anything about. We are monitoring his situation. If he has an amazing recovery which I, we, doctors don’t expect, he might travel tomorrow but let’s have a fair expectation, that’s not what I expect.”

Pressed for further clarity, Slot added with a smile: “It is difficult to be more specific. I don’t know if anyone wants to hear what he exactly has! But he came in this morning, so he’s ill.”

Liverpool’s Travelling Squad Overview

The trimmed squad emphasises how stretched Liverpool are for this trip. Virgil van Dijk leads the defensive unit, supported by Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez, Lucky, Conor Bradley, Milos Kerkez and Andy Robertson.

In midfield, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Trey Nyoni form the available group. The lack of depth here is evident, especially with Endo absent.

In attack, Slot will depend on Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and young forward Ngumoha. Without Gakpo and Chiesa, this quartet must shoulder the creative and scoring responsibilities.

Cody Gakpo’s Significance For Liverpool

Gakpo’s role under Slot has grown steadily, with his off ball movement and ability to link phases giving Liverpool a different attacking profile. His absence for “a few weeks” amplifies the pressure on the remaining forwards and could force structural tweaks in upcoming fixtures. For a team balancing domestic and European expectations, losing a versatile attacker at this juncture adds complexity to an already demanding schedule.