Liverpool’s Injury Concerns Ahead of Premier League Debut

Andoni Iraola is still waiting for clarity. His first Premier League game as Liverpool head coach arrives on Sunday at Newcastle United, but the full shape of his squad remains blurred by injury and doubt.

Liverpool’s growing absentee list

Four senior players are already ruled out of the trip to St James’ Park.

• Hugo Ekitike is facing a race just to play again this calendar year after suffering a serious Achilles injury in early April.
• Conor Bradley is also sidelined, still working his way back from major knee damage sustained at Arsenal in early January.
• At centre-back, Giovanni Leoni is edging closer to rejoining full first-team training. He has been out since last September with an ACL injury and is not yet ready to return to competitive action.
• Joe Gomez, meanwhile, remains unavailable after a muscle problem picked up in the opening pre-season friendly against Sunderland, an issue that has lingered into the new campaign.

The uncertainty does not stop there. Curtis Jones, the subject of transfer interest from Inter, has missed the last two weekends with a hip problem, leaving a question mark over his involvement on Tyneside. Goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, absent from both friendlies against Como on Sunday, has been managing an injury throughout pre-season and is also a concern.

Young striker Jayden Danns and midfielder Stefan Bajcetic add to the list of absentees as they continue their recovery from muscle issues, stripping away more depth from Iraola’s options.

Newcastle’s own problems

Newcastle, who have already seen a number of senior players depart this summer, are hardly untouched by fitness problems themselves.

• Joelinton is out for several weeks with an undisclosed issue, removing a key presence from Eddie Howe’s midfield.
• At the back, Valentino Livramento and Fabian Schar are both rated doubtful for Liverpool’s visit, leaving Newcastle’s defensive plans in flux.

So Iraola’s Premier League debut in the Liverpool dugout will unfold against a backdrop of patched-up squads and late fitness calls. How both managers juggle those absences on Sunday could shape far more than just the opening day.