Liverpool Faces Injury Challenges in Premier League Opener Against Newcastle
Liverpool will walk into a new era at St James’ Park on Sunday – and they’ll do it without a full deck.
Andoni Iraola takes charge of the Reds in the Premier League for the first time, opposite fellow debutant Matthias Jaissle in the Newcastle United dugout. Two new managers, one of the division’s most hostile grounds, and a growing list of absentees on both sides before a ball has even been kicked.
Iraola’s injury headache
If Iraola hoped pre-season would give him a clear look at his squad, injuries have ripped up that plan. The Spaniard still hasn’t had the chance to work with his full group, and that won’t change for the opening weekend.
Several long-term casualties remain firmly out of the picture. Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni are all sidelined after serious problems carried over from last season.
Bradley’s situation is the most severe. He is not expected back until 2027, a brutal timescale that effectively rules him out for multiple campaigns. Ekitike’s outlook is less extreme but still bleak in the short term, with the forward set to miss a number of months yet.
Leoni should return before both, but even his road back is a long one. The midfielder is still recovering from the ACL injury he suffered last September and could end up spending close to a full year out.
The problems don’t stop there. Joe Gomez is also unavailable and is not due back until next month. Iraola had already admitted during pre-season that any hope of the defender making the opener was unrealistic, describing it as “impossible” after a muscle injury halted his preparations.
So Liverpool head to Tyneside light on numbers and rhythm, with their new head coach forced into early improvisation.
Isak managed, but ready
On the other side, a different kind of concern surrounds Alexander Isak. His fitness has been a talking point all summer after issues last season, but Iraola struck a positive note when asked about his star forward.
“Right now I think he is in a very good place, he's been training every day,” he said in his press conference. “He hasn't missed a training session, he's adding more and more minutes in every friendly game.
“I think that he already played a very good World Cup in terms of availability, fitness level. I want to keep him there as much as we can because we know his level and if we can keep him there, he will score the goals, he will give us a lot of things.”
The message is clear: Isak will need careful management, but he is fit, involved and has travelled with the squad. For a side stripped of several options elsewhere, that matters.
Jaissle’s own problems at Newcastle
Newcastle arrive at the same fixture with their own reshaped midfield and fresh injury concerns.
The Magpies have already waved goodbye to Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes this summer, losing two pillars of last season’s engine room. Now Joelinton is also out of the equation.
“For sure out for a couple of weeks but I don't want to go too much in detail as there will always be specialists involved,” Jaissle explained. “The medical department is aware of it, we have top staff when it comes to that and I am really confident he will be back as soon as possible.”
The Brazilian’s absence strips Newcastle of power and chaos between the lines, the very qualities that often tilt tight games at St James’ Park.
Jaissle must also do without Tino Livramento. The full-back’s World Cup hopes were wrecked by a training-ground injury in the United States, and any notion of a quick return against Liverpool has been dismissed.
“For sure, too early [to return against Liverpool],” Jaissle said. “He had just one training where he was partially involved.
“So we need to be smart with his progress now. We can't wait until he is 100% ready. He has huge potential and I love him.”
Two new managers, key men missing, a fanbase on edge in both camps. Sunday won’t just reveal who starts the season fastest – it will show which of Iraola or Jaissle can bend early adversity to their will in a league that offers no time for excuses.
