Liverpool sweat on Jacquet, Isak and Gakpo fitness ahead of unbeaten City showdown

Liverpool could be without three key players for Sunday’s Premier League visit of Manchester City to Anfield, with centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, striker Alexander Isak and winger Cody Gakpo all carrying fitness concerns after the international break.

Jacquet, 21, was withdrawn from France’s squad before Monday’s 4-1 UEFA Nations League win over Belgium with what the French Football Federation described as a “strain to his left hamstring”. Manager Zinedine Zidane offered cautious reassurance, describing the injury as “slight”, but Liverpool must wait to learn the full extent of the problem. The defender has started six of Liverpool’s seven league matches this season, forming a central defensive partnership with Virgil van Dijk.

Head coach Andoni Iraola does have cover available. On-loan Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo and Joe Gomez are both options if Jacquet is ruled out.

The attacking picture is equally uncertain. Isak was sent home by Sweden after just one match due to a minor thigh problem, while Gakpo is considered the more serious doubt after injuring his ankle during Netherlands duty. Should both forwards miss the game, Iraola’s options up front would be significantly reduced. Summer signing Bradley Barcola could be deployed centrally despite being more naturally suited to a wide role, while Florian Wirtz may be pushed further forward from his usual number 10 position.

The timing is far from ideal. Liverpool head into the fixture unbeaten in the Premier League but have drawn three of their opening five games, leaving them six points behind City, who have won all of their matches so far. Iraola’s side have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, keeping three consecutive clean sheets in the league after a stuttering start that included back-to-back 2-2 draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.

City, meanwhile, arrive at Anfield for their first match since an independent commission found the club guilty of the vast majority of charges relating to financial rule breaches — a backdrop that adds further weight to an already significant fixture.