Liverpool's Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid at Anfield produced a couple of nervy moments for the home side, though the club's head coach has moved to ease concerns over two of his players following the match.
Bradley Barcola, the club's £123 million summer signing, was making his first start for Liverpool in the league phase opener but endured a frustrating night in front of goal. The France international was denied by goalkeeper Jan Oblak and squandered a big chance after the break before going down clutching his left calf. He was replaced by fellow new arrival Victor Munoz just after the hour mark, sparking worry among supporters and team-mates alike.
However, the club has since clarified that Barcola's issue was cramp rather than a fresh injury. "I just asked him if it was cramp and he said yes, so that was a relief," the head coach explained. "It was just cramp. We have been rushing Bradley a little bit because he hadn't played any minutes in pre-season. We wanted him to play but said to just give us whatever he had. We have another game in three days." As a result, Barcola is expected to be available when Fulham visit Anfield on Saturday.
Milos Kerkez also struggled through the contest, starting at left-back but was culpable in the build-up to Marcos Llorente's early opener for Atletico. The Hungarian defender was later withdrawn and replaced by Kostas Tsimikas after also appearing to labour physically. Like Barcola, though, Kerkez's withdrawal was put down to fatigue rather than injury. "Milos and Bradley were just cramping [and] were just tired," the manager said. "I think I always want to do subs because of this, because you've given everything, you don't have any more, perfect. We do the subs, not because you haven't run and I have to sub you. So, I prefer when you've done everything you can and then we sub you because you cannot run anymore." Kerkez, too, is expected to be fit for the weekend.
Cody Gakpo missed the Atletico fixture entirely after picking up adductor discomfort during the previous league outing against Ipswich Town. The head coach downplayed the severity of the issue beforehand, saying: "Cody finished the game the other day against Ipswich with some adductor issues. Both sides. Nothing specific. Not a proper injury. But we didn't want to risk him, and I think it makes sense he can rest and hope we can recover him. If it's not for the weekend, it's for the next one. But I think even for the weekend he has a chance." That leaves Gakpo as a doubt for Fulham, with a return against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup also possible.
Elsewhere, longer-term absentee Hugo Ekitike continues his rehabilitation from the ruptured Achilles tendon suffered against Paris Saint-Germain in last season's Champions League quarter-final. He underwent surgery in April and missed the World Cup, with a return not expected until later in the year, potentially November.
Joe Gomez, sidelined since suffering a muscle injury just eight minutes into pre-season, has returned to team training and could feature before the extended international break, potentially against Tottenham or Bournemouth.
Federico Chiesa, out with a back problem picked up in a pre-season friendly against Como, is expected to resume training during the international break, with a possible return date pencilled in for the Manchester City fixture in October.
Conor Bradley, recovering from knee surgery sustained in January against Arsenal, is targeting a similar return timeframe to Ekitike, while teenage defender Giovanni Leoni - out since tearing his ACL on his club debut last September - is also poised to rejoin full training during the international break as he continues his long road back from a serious knee injury.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport (standard-football).