Liverpool injury latest: Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and more | OneFootball

Liverpool Injury Update: Joe Gomez Near Return as Federico Chiesa and Giovanni Leoni Progress

Liverpool have finally got a win on the board under Andoni Iraola, beating Ipswich 2-0 at Portman Road with Alexander Isak scoring both goals. Useful, professional, no drama. Now attention shifts to availability, because the fixture list does not slow down and Liverpool’s squad still has too many names in the treatment room.

The headline is straightforward. Joe Gomez is the closest of the current absentees to coming back, and that matters. He offers depth, experience and flexibility across the back line, which becomes important very quickly once European games begin.

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Joe Gomez return moves closer

Gomez lasted fewer than 10 minutes in Liverpool’s first pre-season friendly before suffering a muscle injury. At the time, Iraola said: “He will be some weeks off. It’s a muscle injury and [with] muscle injuries it is difficult to say one day, but normally I always put [it] as one month.”

The situation has improved. Ahead of the trip to Ipswich, Iraola gave a more encouraging update: “Joe will probably start training with us next week, and it has gone normally. The recovery from a muscle injury – more or less, we were expecting the time on this. I hope we can have him before the break, let’s say.’”

That puts Gomez in line for a possible return against Fulham on September 12. For Liverpool, that is the best immediate news in this injury update.

Federico Chiesa and Giovanni Leoni on similar timelines

Federico Chiesa has missed the opening three matches of the season after picking up a muscle problem in the pre-season game against Como. There is no need to overcomplicate it. He is not ready yet, and October looks more realistic than September.

Iraola said: “I think even Fede should be around those dates [after the international break].” On current information, Liverpool will target the home game against Manchester City on October 11 for Chiesa’s return.

Giovanni Leoni is on a comparable schedule. The young Italian has been out since tearing his ACL on debut against Southampton last year, a brutal setback at the worst possible moment. The positive is that he is now moving towards reintegration with the group. Iraola said: “I think the plan is also to start training during the [international] break, with the group.”

If that goes smoothly, Leoni could also be available in October.

Longer waits for Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley

Hugo Ekitike’s case is more serious. His debut season was cut short in April by a ruptured Achilles tendon, and that kind of injury does not offer quick fixes. Iraola’s update was brief, saying: “Hugo will go [later this year].” That leaves plenty of room for interpretation, but the broad point is clear, Liverpool are taking no risks.

Conor Bradley remains out after surgery following the injury he suffered against Arsenal in January. He is still sidelined and, while there is some hope he could be back before Ekitike, there is no immediate return on the horizon.

So that is where Liverpool stand. Gomez is close, Chiesa and Leoni are progressing, and Bradley and Ekitike remain longer-term cases. In a packed season, getting even one defender back soon would count as a timely boost.