Liverpool injury update: Jeremie Frimpong, Hugo Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni latest news and return dates

Liverpool will be looking for an immediate response to suffering a second Premier League defeat of the season as attentions shift back towards the Champions League this week.

As a result, Liverpool can take a huge step towards qualifying for the knockout stages with victory over Fenerbahce - now managed, albeit on an interim basis, by a familiar face in Dirk Kuyt.

Jeremie Frimpong

The attack-minded right-back is not expected to be available for selection until after the November international break, meaning he will have missed six matches in a row.

Delivering an update on the Dutchman, Iraola said: “Jeremie Frimpong is obviously a new muscle injury and it happened, I think, in the second or third minute he was playing, difficult to predict and we will have to wait until he recovers.

Fresh blow: Jeremie Frimpong has not had much luck with injuries since joining Arsenal

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“But it’s going to be difficult, I think, before the [November international] break. We will try but it’s going to be difficult to have him.”

Potential return date: Sunday November 22, vs Manchester United (H)

Giovanni Leoni

Giovanni Leoni signed for Liverpool from Parma last summer in a deal worth around £26million, but a serious knee injury means he has been limited to just one senior appearance so far.

The Italian central defender made his Liverpool debut in a Carabao Cup third round tie against Southampton in September 2025, and impressed before landing awkwardly following a challenge near the touchline just over 10 minutes from time.

Leoni required treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off and it was later confirmed that he had suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear.

He was expected to miss a full year of action, which has proved to be the case.

Comeback close: Giovanni Leoni should be back in action for Liverpool before the end of the year

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“It’s taking more time than we wanted,” said Iraola. “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.”

Potential return date: December 2026

Hugo Ekitike

Hugo Ekitike has not played since rupturing his right Achilles tendon in the second leg of Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain in April.

The Frenchman missed the end of last season and the World Cup, with suggestions that he would remain sidelined for a period of between nine to 12 months, which would put him on track to return between January and April next year.

Iraola sprung a surprise by including Ekitike in his squad for the league phase of the Champions League, with the hope that he could potentially return for the final two games in January, against Inter Milan and Lens.

Working his way back: Hugo Ekitike has been included in Liverpool’s Champions League squad

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According to reports in France, Ekitike is now targeting a return from injury before the end of the year after recently travelling to the United States to visit a specialist about his recovery.

Potential return date: December 2026

Conor Bradley

Conor Bradley is another long-term absentee for Liverpool, having undergone surgery on bone and ligament damage to his left knee suffered during the closing stages of the goalless away draw with Arsenal in the Premier League back in January.

Iraola’s latest comments were positive, indicating that Bradley will soon return to full training.

“[He is] doing very well,” Iraola said. “I think [he is] in a good place. Conor is not so far from training with the group – not like full training but doing some things with the group.

“I think Conor is not very far from starting doing things with us."

A return following the November international break seems most likely for the right-back as Liverpool will be keen to get him some minutes with the U21s prior to a first team reintegration.

Potential return date: Wednesday, December 2 vs Sunderland (H)