Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has provided a fresh Liverpool fitness update regarding Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak, and Dominik Szoboszlai ahead of Saturday’s Premier League showdown against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
The key trio missed the Reds’ past two matches after sustaining injuries during the September/October international break. Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Thursday, Iraola left the door open for their potential inclusion:
“It’s early for us to say, we have still tomorrow’s training. Obviously, they were not ready for last night [against LASK].
“We have to wait and see. I think it’s still very early but the same way I said they are not available for the previous games, I leave the chance open this time, yes.”
Squad Rotation Crucial Amid Packed Schedule
Coming off a European victory in Austria, Liverpool face a tight turnaround with less than 72 hours before kicking off against Brentford. Iraola emphasized the necessity of squad rotation during this demanding period, hinting at further lineup changes both this weekend and for the upcoming clash with Villarreal:
“In this period especially, when we are basically playing every three days – almost less than three days – you need more players. That’s why we changed the team a little bit yesterday.
“We will need to change again at the weekend, we will need to change again when we face Villarreal in another three days.
“We need everyone, we will need everyone in one moment or the other. Everyone has to be ready because we will need him probably.”
Giovanni Leoni Rehabilitation Progress
Providing a further Liverpool fitness update, Iraola addressed the long-term recovery of 19-year-old defender Giovanni Leoni. The youngster suffered a severe knee injury, including an ACL tear, during his Liverpool debut against Southampton at Anfield in September 2025.
While Leoni has worked diligently with the medical staff at the AXA Training Centre, his planned return to group training has been slightly delayed until November’s international break:
“It’s taking more time than we wanted. The planning was to train with the team in this past international break [but] probably it’s going to be in the next international break, so we’ve lost one month in the process.
“Giovanni’s injury, I wasn’t here but talking to the medical department, it was not just an ACL – it was a bad injury, a lot of things around the knee were involved apart from the ACL.
“He has to be very confident, the rehab process has to be very careful with him and we want to make sure once he comes to the team, he stays there in a good place.
“It’s true that we’ve had, not a setback, but a little bit of a delay, if you want.
“The plan now is he starts in the next break. It’s not that far but it’s a little bit later than we expected, yes.”
The upcoming Premier League clash between Brentford and Liverpool at the Gtech Community Stadium promises to be an intense encounter. Both teams arrive in contrasting forms but with high stakes involved early in the season.
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Head-to-Head Stats & Overview
In overall league history, the two clubs have met 25 times across all eras:
Liverpool Wins: 15
Brentford Wins: 5
Draws: 5
Premier League Era Record (Since 2021)
Since Brentford’s promotion to the top flight, the sides have faced each other 10 times in the Premier League:
Stat Category
Liverpool 🔴
Brentford 🐝
Wins
6
2
Draws
2
2
Goals Scored
22
11
Clean Sheets
4
1
Recent Encounters
May 24, 2026 (Anfield): Liverpool 1–1 Brentford (Curtis Jones 58′; Kevin Schade 64′)
October 2025 (Gtech Community Stadium): Brentford 3–1 Liverpool
February 2025 (Gtech Community Stadium): Brentford 1–4 Liverpool
Form & Key Context
Brentford: The Bees enter in strong domestic form, sitting 4th in the table with 10 points. They are on an 8-match unbeaten run in all competitions and have delivered impressive performances at home. OneFootball
Liverpool: The Reds come off a thrilling 6-3 victory over LASK Linz in Europe, but are seeking stability in domestic play. Head coach Andoni Iraola faces rotational pressure given the tight 72-hour turnaround between matches.
