Liverpool news: Virgil van Dijk transfer demand met as Reds get player's medical verdict

· Mirror

Liverpool are waiting anxiously as they hope to come through the international break without any more injury concerns

As we approach the halfway point in the extended international break, Liverpool are among several Premier League clubs dealing with injury worries in the first round of fixtures. We've still got more than a week until top-level club football returns, though, giving the likes of Alexander Isak time to recover.

With little focus on domestic action, we've also been treated to transfer talk despite the winter window being three months away from opening. Andoni Iraola's team might be unbeaten in the league but that hasn't stopped the chatter ramping up.

Isak has returned to Merseyside after suffering a minor injury playing for Sweden. “It’s not a big one but because of the amount of games we’ve got in a small space of time, he won’t be able to make those," his international boss Graham Potter said, allowing for some optimism over a club return when Liverpool take on Manchester City on October 11.

We've got updates on another injury worry as well as some transfer talk. Here are Mirror Football's latest lines from around Anfield.

Van Dijk vindicated

Liverpool have reaped the benefits of holding on to Cody Gakpo amid links to Tottenham and Manchester City. It comes after his Dutch colleague Virgil van Dijk waxed lyrical about the forward.

> "What do you think? He's a quality player,” Van Dijk said in August when asked if he wanted Gakpo to stay after the arrival of Bradley Barcola. “I think we should keep quality players.

> "Let's see what the next few days bring. I want him to stay not only because he's a quality player but also because he's a friend of mine. He's very important for us."

Gakpo already has two goals and four assists in just six club appearances this season. It looks as though the captain has been vindicated.

Gakpo injury latest

Liverpool face a nervous wait after Cody Gakpo was forced off on international duty. According to football injury analyst Physio Scout, they'll need to hope scans rule out an extended absence.

> "Scissor-tackle type mechanism forced Gakpo's ankle into eversion + external rotation. This mechanism raises concern for a syndesmosis/high ankle sprain. Scans will need to rule out any lower-leg fractures," the account wrote.

Gakpo was withdrawn after going down holding his ankle, having earlier been on the receiving end of a hefty challenge from Serbia's Sasa Lukic. Netherlands boss Xavi said he hoped it was nothing too serious but the player has now returned to Liverpool and his club should soon get a better idea of the situation.

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