Cody Gakpo has made a fast start this season (Picture: AP) Andoni Iraola confirmed Cody Gakpo has missed Liverpool’s opening Champions League fixture with Atletico Madrid due to an adductor problem. Gakpo has made a fast start to the Premier League season under his new boss, with a goal and three assists in his first three matches. The Dutch forward played the full 90 minutes on Friday night and set up Alexander Isak twice as the Reds claimed a comfortable 2-0 win over Ipswich Town. However, Gakpo was not pictured in training on Tuesday and has now missed out on the matchday squad for the visit of Atletico. Sign up for In The Mixer, Metro's football newsletter Get exclusive analysis and previews of the biggest games every Friday. Sign up now for free. Asked about Gakpo’s injury pre-match, Iraola told TNT Sports: ‘Yes Cody finished the game the other day against Ipswich with some adductor issues. ‘Both sides, nothing specific and not a proper injury but we didn’t want to risk him. ‘I think it makes sense to take a rest and I hope we can recover him for the next one but I think even for the weekend he has a chance to be there.’ Gakpo picked up an injury against Ipswich Town (Picture: EPA) Bradley Barcola, signed from Paris Saint-Germain for £123million, comes in to replace Gakpo for his first Liverpool start. Elsewhere, Victor Munoz is dropped to the bench, with Rio Ngumoha instead starting on the right wing. Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid starting line-ups Liverpool starting XI: Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Ngumoha, Isak, Barcola Liverpool subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Tsimikas, Munoz, Frimpong, Gravenberch, Nyoni, Chambers, McConnell, Koumas, Danns. Atletico starting XI: Oblak, Llorente, Hancko, Romero, Pubil, Barios, Koke, Simeone, Baena, Alvarez, Lee. Atletico subs: Musso, Vargas, Mendoza, Cardoso, Lookman, David, Grimaldo, Hjulmand, Le Normand, Dominguez, Martinez, Castillo. On the decision to start Barcola, Iraola added: ‘It’s true that he hasn’t had the pre-season minutes but I liked what I saw from him the other day [against Ipswich] for 30 minutes. ‘He’s been training well so I think it was a good game to put him in straight away. ‘Now I don’t think he can probably finish the game, we’ll see how he does, but we need some freshness and I think especially outside with Rio [Ngumoha] and Bradley, I think we can find these difference makers.’ Liverpool face a quick turnaround after Wednesday’s match, hosting Fulham in the league at Anfield on Saturday. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Ipswich Town at least have a start and a platform to build on, however, a couple of Premier League heavyweights have done their best to dent what was a very encouraging beginning just a couple of weeks ago. With just 10 minutes on the clock at Portman Road last Friday, I would have probably taken a 2-0 defeat for the Blues against Liverpool, but I never thought it possible. The fact that Gary O'Neil's side saw out the rest of the match without conceding, against a side who were looking so rampant early on, was a big positive in my eyes.
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