Liverpool Triumphs Over Atletico Without Gakpo

Liverpool opened their Champions League league-phase campaign with a statement win over Atletico – but they did it without one of their most influential early-season performers.

Cody Gakpo never even made the bench.

The Dutch forward, who has exploded into form under new head coach Andoni Iraola, was ruled out after missing Tuesday’s key training session. By kick-off, Liverpool had already accepted they would have to cope without him, and they did so impressively, grinding out a 2–1 victory.

Only after the game did the full picture emerge. Iraola revealed Gakpo had felt pain in both adductors after his previous 90-minute outing. Not a tear. Not a major muscular breakdown. But enough discomfort to shut the door on any realistic chance of involvement.

"I don't know [if he will be back for Fulham]. I hope so, but I don't know. He doesn't have a proper injury, but he finished with niggles in both of the adductors the other day," Iraola told the club’s official channels, underlining the fine line Liverpool are walking with his fitness.

The plan had been to have him available. The body said otherwise.

"We expected to have him for today, [but] it hasn't been possible. It's not a big thing, but the problem is we play here [again] in two days and a half."

That schedule is the real enemy. Gakpo’s issue may be minor, but the calendar is unforgiving. Liverpool host Fulham in just over 48 hours, and what might normally be a routine few days of rest and rehab has turned into a race against time.

It comes at the worst possible moment for a player who has lit up the opening weeks of the season. Under Iraola, Gakpo has been devastating between the lines, already producing one goal and three assists in his first three matches. His numbers tell only part of the story; his influence has been constant.

On Friday night he went the distance again, playing the full 90 minutes in a commanding 2–0 win over Ipswich Town. He set up Alexander Isak twice, driving Liverpool to a comfortable victory and reinforcing his status as a central pillar of Iraola’s attacking blueprint.

Then came the bill for that workload.

Iraola, fully aware of the physical strain on his squad, cut a realistic figure when assessing the next step.

"I think now is a moment of recovery in these two days. Let's see how Bradley has finished, how Cody is [and] if he can give us some minutes. If not, Rio, Victor, I think today everyone has done a big effort."

Recovery, regroup, rethink. That is the rhythm now for Liverpool, squeezed by a relentless fixture list and suddenly unsure whether one of their form players can be risked again so soon.

"We need to recover, we need to regroup and think because in two days and a half we play again here [against] Fulham, it's a very important game again for us. So, I hope we can have Cody with us, but I cannot guarantee it."

No guarantees, then. Just a manager weighing risk against reward, and a forward whose blistering start has made his potential absence feel far bigger than “niggles” should.

Liverpool have already shown they can edge past Atletico without Gakpo. The real test now is whether they are prepared to gamble with him so early in a long, demanding season.