Gakpo sent back to Liverpool with ankle injury as Reds face growing concern

Liverpool have been handed another injury concern after Cody Gakpo withdrew from the Netherlands squad with an ankle problem.The 27-year-old will return to Merseyside for further assessment by Liverpool's medical staff after being forced off early in the Netherlands' 2-1 victory over Serbia in Belgrade.The full extent of the injury remains unclear, but Gakpo will miss the Oranje's final two matches of the international break against Greece and Serbia.##TWITTER_<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cody gakpo suffers major ankle injury blow on international game with the netherlands!<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/gakpo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#gakpo</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/lfc?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lfc</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/liverpool?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#liverpool</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/ynwa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ynwa</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/premierleague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#premierleague</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/anfield?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#anfield</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/liverpoolfc?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#liverpoolfc</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/nationsleague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nationsleague</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/reds?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#reds</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/lfcnews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lfcnews</a><a href="https://t.co/caxvIDRzd0">https://t.co/caxvIDRzd0</a> <a href="https://t.co/0t4ZzbBsEq">pic.twitter.com/0t4ZzbBsEq</a></p>&mdash; Liverpool Pulse (@LFCPulseFan) <a href="https://x.com/LFCPulseFan/status/2104620387266933221?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>##Gakpo was substituted after just 17 minutes against Serbia in Belgrade after being caught by a challenge from Ipswich's midfielder Sasa Lukic. The Liverpool forward initially tried to continue, but was eventually unable to play on and signalled to the bench that he needed to come off.Netherlands boss Xavi was hopeful the problem was not serious."I don't think so. It's his ankle, that's all I know. Tomorrow we will know, but hopefully it's not too important," he said after the match.22.00: (6.25) Congo (3.60) Cameroon (1.55)Gakpo's situation is an added headache for Liverpool coach Andoni Iraola, who has already seen Alexander Isak return from international duty with a thigh problem.Isak withdrew from the Sweden squad on Sunday after scoring in their 2-1 victory over Romania, with Swedish coach Graham Potter describing the injury as a "small problem".Gakpo has made an excellent start to the season, registering two goals and four assists in six appearances for Liverpool. He also scored the Netherlands' equaliser in Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Germany. Now the Reds will wait to discover whether their in-form forward will be fit for the club's demanding run of fixtures.##LINKED_NEWS_68533##