Arne Slot confirms Cody Gakpo is out for ‘weeks’ as Liverpool prepare to face Brighton | OneFootball

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has delivered a mixed injury update ahead of his side’s Premier League meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Dutchman has confirmed that Cody Gakpo will be out for ‘weeks’ after picking up a muscle problem following the dramatic 3-3 Premier League draw against Leeds United.

Gakpo was left out of the Liverpool squad for the narrow 1-0 Champions League win over Inter Milan at San Siro Stadium earlier in the week.

He has been in decent form for Liverpool this season, notching five goals and four assists in 20 games across the Premier League and Champions League.

However, his form has dropped over the past few weeks, with the Dutchman racking up only a goal and an assist in his last seven games in all competitions.

Slot also provided an update on out-of-favour duo Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo.

Both players have hardly kicked a ball for the Reds this season, but Chiesa has shaken off an illness and is in contention to face Brighton, while Endo will join Gakpo in the infirmary.

“Federico [Chiesa] is not ill anymore,” Slot said during his pre-match press conference. “He trained yesterday, and he trained today again, so I assume he’s ready to be in the squad tomorrow again.”

When asked for a further update on Endo and Gakpo, Slot added: “It’s going to be weeks. With Cody, it’s a muscle injury, and Wata is an ankle injury.”

Striker Alexander Isak is also a doubt for the Brighton clash after picking up a knock in the Champions League outing against Inter, and will need to pass a late fitness test.

“Alex also got a knock in the first half, so let’s see how he has recovered from that today,” Slot said.

“If he’s able to start tomorrow and, if he’s able, I make the decision to start them [Isak and Hugo Ekitike] again together, or we do it in a different way.”