Liverpool's Defensive Boost: Joe Gomez Nears Return for Champions League

Liverpool finally have some light creeping through a fairly grim injury tunnel – and it might arrive just in time for Europe.

Andoni Iraola’s side claimed their first win under the new head coach on Friday night, a controlled 2-0 victory at Ipswich, with Alexander Isak striking twice at Portman Road. That result settles a few early nerves. The injury list does not. Most of Liverpool’s absentees remain long-term problems, but there is growing optimism that at least one defender will rejoin the squad before the schedule tightens again.

Atletico Madrid visit Anfield on Wednesday for Liverpool’s Champions League opener. Iraola would dearly love one more senior body available by then.

Here is where the main cases stand.

Joe Gomez

The most encouraging news surrounds Joe Gomez. The defender limped off less than 10 minutes into Liverpool’s first pre-season friendly and has not been seen since, a muscle issue halting his summer before it had really started.

Initially, Iraola played down any hope of a quick fix.

“He will be some weeks off,” the Liverpool manager said after that game against Sunderland in Nashville. “It's a muscle injury and [with] muscle injuries it is difficult to say one day, but normally I always put [it] as one month.”

That rough estimate has proved about right. Now the tone has shifted from caution to planning his reintegration.

Before the trip to Ipswich, Iraola revealed: “Joe will probably start training with us next week, and it has gone normally. The recovery from a muscle injury – more or less, we were expecting the time on this. I hope we can have him before the break, let’s say.”

If there are no setbacks, Liverpool expect Gomez to be in contention around the home game against Fulham on 12 September. For a squad light on fit defenders, that date is already circled.

Potential return date: September 12 vs Fulham (H)

Federico Chiesa

Federico Chiesa’s Liverpool career has stalled before it has properly begun. The Italian forward has missed the opening three league matches with a muscle problem picked up in pre-season against Como, when he felt something in his back.

Any hope of a swift comeback has faded. Liverpool are working to an October timeline.

“I think even Fede should be around those dates [after the international break],” Iraola said last week, tying Chiesa’s schedule to the cluster of players pencilled in for post-break returns.

That points towards the home clash with Manchester City on 11 October as a realistic target. Liverpool will not rush a player whose explosiveness is his main weapon.

Potential return date: October 11 vs Man City (H)

Hugo Ekitike

Hugo Ekitike’s situation is the most severe. The striker’s eye-catching debut season was cut short in April when he ruptured his Achilles tendon, an injury that instantly ended his campaign and wiped out his summer.

He has not featured since and remains deep in the rehabilitation phase. Iraola, though, sounded a note of belief that Liverpool will see him again before the year is out.

“Hugo will go [later this year],” the Reds’ boss said last week, indicating a late-stage return rather than a lost season.

Even so, the club are treating his case with extreme care. Achilles injuries are unforgiving, and any precise comeback date remains deliberately vague.

Potential return date: Late 2026

Conor Bradley

On the opposite flank, Conor Bradley has endured a brutal year. The right-back has been out since January after suffering an injury against Arsenal, a blow that required surgery and wiped out his momentum.

The Northern Ireland international is still sidelined but edging closer to the final phase of his recovery. Iraola believes Bradley could reappear before Ekitike and hopes he will not be too far behind Chiesa in terms of a competitive return.

For a manager who leans heavily on aggressive full-backs, Bradley’s eventual comeback could reshape Liverpool’s options on the right.

Potential return date: Late 2026

Giovanni Leoni

Giovanni Leoni’s wait has been even longer. The Italian youngster tore his ACL on his debut against Southampton a year ago, a nightmare start that has kept him out ever since.

Now, at last, there is movement. Leoni is closing in on a return to full training and has been earmarked for reintegration during the upcoming international break.

“I think the plan is also to start training during the [international] break, with the group,” Iraola said before the win at Ipswich.

Liverpool see that Man City fixture on 11 October as a realistic point for his first involvement, if his knee responds well to the increased load.

Potential return date: October 11 vs Man City (H)

For now, Iraola must navigate Atletico and the early Champions League tests with what he has. If the medical timelines hold, though, Liverpool’s bench – and their season – could look very different by mid-October.