Liverpool left sweating on fitness of key player for Man City showdown

Liverpool are facing the prospect of being without Jeremy Jacquet for Sunday’s visit of Manchester City as they wait to learn how serious the centre-back’s fitness problem is.

The 21-year-old was absent from France’s squad for Monday’s 4-1 Nations League win over Belgium.

He had started France’s previous two matches, which were his first appearances at senior international level.

A statement from the French Football Federation said the defender had sustained a “strain to his left hamstring”, while Zinedine Zidane said in his post-match press conference that Jacquet was “slightly injured”.

Jacquet has played in all seven of Liverpool’s matches this season. Six of those appearances have come as a starter alongside Virgil van Dijk in central defence.

Head coach Andoni Iraola does have options at the back, with on-loan Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo and Joe Gomez available as cover.

Liverpool also have doubts over two forwards, Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo, after their international duties with Sweden and the Netherlands respectively were cut short.

Isak was sent home after playing just one match because of a minor thigh problem. Gakpo is more of a concern, having injured his ankle.

If the pair are unavailable, Iraola would be short of attacking options for the visit of City, who are playing their first match since an independent commission found the club guilty of the vast majority of charges relating to financial breaches.

Bradley Barcola, a summer signing, could be pressed into action in a central role even though he is more comfortable playing out wide.

Florian Wirtz could also be moved further forward from his number 10 position.

Liverpool are currently unbeaten in the Premier League, but have drawn three of their opening five matches. This leaves them six points adrift of early pace-setters City who have claimed maximum points from all of their games to date.

The Reds are yet to find their best form under Iraola but have shown promising signs of late, keeping three clean sheets on the bounce in the league. This follows up from a shaky start to the season that saw them held to successive 2-2 draws by Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.