Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo Faces Potential Six-Week Absence Due to Injury

Liverpool is anxiously awaiting the results of a scan after forward Cody Gakpo suffered an injury during the match against Tottenham. It is predicted that Gakpo could face around six weeks on the sidelines following a nasty challenge from Spurs full-back Destiny Udogie.

Udogie’s lunging tackle caught Gakpo’s ankle, causing it to twist badly as his body went in the opposite direction. Gakpo initially continued playing and even managed to score an equalizer just before halftime. However, speaking after the game, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp expressed concern, noting that Gakpo was seen “limping down the corridor” and suggesting it could be a significant injury.

Cody Gakpo left Liverpool vs. Spurs w/ a knee brace. Ankle was forced into ext rot, stressing the medial knee.

Mechanism brings concern for MCL sprain. Brace typically indicates grade 2/3 injury. Ankle concern too.

Gr 1: 1-2wks
Gr 2: 3-6wks
Gr 3: 6-8wks#FPL #TOTLIV #YNWA #LFC pic.twitter.com/A0zIVKcs8Z

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— Physio Scout | Football Injury Analysis (@physioscout) October 1, 2023

The hope is that the scans conducted on Sunday and in the following week will reveal no serious damage. However, an injury specialist on Twitter, @physioscout, has voiced concern for a possible medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain, as the ankle was forced into external rotation, putting strain on the medial knee. The specialist also noted that wearing a brace typically indicates a grade 2 or 3 injury and expressed ankle concerns as well.

The typical recovery timeframe for such injuries is one to two weeks for grade 1, three to six weeks for grade 2, and six to eight weeks for grade 3. If the injury is confirmed, it is expected that Gakpo could face a spell on the sidelines lasting around six weeks.

This news comes as a significant blow to Liverpool, as manager Jurgen Klopp has been relying on the depth of his squad and rotating players in recent weeks. Gakpo had been performing well, making his sixth start of the season against Tottenham and scoring his third goal. With Gakpo potentially out of action, there will be increased pressure on Darwin Nunez, who Klopp revealed is already struggling with a “little bone” injury picked up while on international duty with Uruguay.

In addition to Gakpo’s injury, Liverpool will also be without Diogo Jota for their next Premier League match due to a one-match suspension following his red card for two bookable offenses. These absences will test the depth of Liverpool’s attacking options and require Klopp to make adjustments to his lineup in the coming weeks.