Sport | Football

Gakpo missed Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa after being injured in the Merseyside derby

Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Simon Collings @sr_collings35 seconds ago

BREAKING: Arne Slot provides Cody Gakpo injury update ahead of Liverpool game vs Man City	Cody Gakpo injury update issued by Arne Slot ahead of Liverpool vs Man City	Pep Guardiola provides major Manchester City injury update ahead of Liverpool clash

Liverpool are still sweating over the fitness of Cody Gakpo ahead of their Premier League showdown with Liverpool.

Gakpo missed Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa due to the knock he sustained in the Merseyside derby at Everton last week.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s trip to the Etihad, Arne Slot said on Thursday that Gakpo is still not back in full training and it will be a “close call” whether he is ready to face City.

Gakpo’s fitness could be crucial for Liverpool on what could be another huge weekend in the Premier League title race.

Without Gakpo, Darwin Nunez missed a sitter for Liverpool at Aston Villa as they dropped more points.

Read More

The draw at Villa Park means Liverpool are eight point above Arsenal, but the Gunners have a game in hand and close to within five points when they play West Ham on Saturday.

Liverpool are also set to be without right-back Conor Bradley this weekend after he limped off with a hamstring injury against Aston Villa.

Bradley is due to undergo further assessment in the coming days, but he is expected to miss the next two games at least.

“We don’t know yet, but I would be completely surprised if he is involved in the Sunday game or the Wednesday game against Newcastle,” said Slot.

“You can assume that is not going to happen.

“Joe Gomez had surgery for his hamstring injury, so he is out for a long time.

He will be back maybe just before end of the season.”

Slot also revealed in his press conference on Thursday morning that he is having to manage the minutes of Diogo Jota and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

“These two players are not injured, but they come back from an injury,” said Slot.

“That’s also the reason why they don’t play 90 minutes five times in a row in 15 days, because that would be a big risk.

That is only because it’s a big injury risk to keep them in the team.

“So when I drove up I was listening to talkSPORT and I don’t know who he is, but his name was Mark Lawrenson or something like this.

“And he simply couldn’t understand that I took Trent out [against Aston Villa], which I understand from his perspective because he played so well and he just scored a goal.

But now maybe he does.”

MORE ABOUT

Liverpool injury news

Cody Gakpo

Shopping Best Buys20 of the best pillows for every type of sleeperBest design-led sofas: ultimate guideBest affordable handbag brands for luxe style on a budget Best natural protein powder: Top choices for clean nutritionBest sandwich toasters for making great toasties every time
For more news relating to Newcastle United, visit our sister site NUFC Latest Live.