ANDONI IRAOLA CONFIRMS FRESH LIVERPOOL INJURY BLOW

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has confirmed a further injury setback in his squad ahead of the club's trip to Brentford this weekend, the club said. Iraola said defender Giovanni Leoni, sidelined for more than a year, suffered a new setback and will not return to training until after the next international break at the earliest. The setback adds to six injury concerns Iraola is currently managing. It follows back-to-back matches against Manchester City and Austrian side LASK, in which Liverpool fielded an inexperienced forward line.

Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike have both been unavailable, with Isak picking up an injury while on international duty with Sweden during the break. Lewis Koumas started as centre-forward in both the Manchester City and LASK matches as a result. Cody Gakpo also missed out after sustaining an injury on international duty with the Netherlands, with Rio Ngumoha starting in his place away in Austria on Wednesday. Dominik Szoboszlai has missed the last two matches with a thigh problem, and midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, sent off against Manchester City, is suspended for the Brentford fixture. Trey Nyoni has stepped in alongside Alexis Mac Allister in midfield during Szoboszlai's absence.

Right-back Conor Bradley, out with a knee injury, is expected to return next month, which Iraola said would provide competition for Ronald Araujo and Jeremie Frimpong in the full-back positions. Leoni's new setback means his absence, already more than a year long, will now extend beyond the next international break, Iraola confirmed. Separate reports had previously questioned the extent of Szoboszlai's injury before the club's update on both players. Liverpool travel to Brentford still contending with the six injury issues, Iraola added.