Isak and Gakpo out for City clash as Koumas is Liverpool's only No 9

📰 Liverpool face five-from-five leaders Manchester City at Anfield without Isak and Gakpo. 📌 Key points 🚑 Iraola confirmed Isak and Gakpo will both miss the City game. 🎯 With Ekitike out long-term, Koumas is the only natural No 9 left. ⚽ The duel between top scorer Haaland (5) and Isak (4) is off. 🔥 Maresca expects the crowd to be 'worse because of the situation'. 📅 It is the first league meeting without Klopp or Guardiola since March 2015. 📝 What happened 🩹 At his press conference on 9 October, Iraola said Isak has a thigh muscle problem and Gakpo an ankle injury from a bad tackle, so neither will play on Sunday. Both left their national squads early, and he does not expect either injury to be long-term. 🔎 The problem is up front. With Ekitike injured long-term, Koumas is the only recognised striker and Iraola said he 'has our trust'. Barcola, who can play centrally or wide, and Chiesa, yet to play a minute this season, are the alternatives. According to Opta, all three of Gakpo's league assists were for Isak goals. 🏟️ It is City's first match since the guilty verdict on financial rule breaches. Maresca said the atmosphere 'probably will be worse because of the situation' but insisted his players 'absolutely' can face the pressure, adding that he became a manager for games like this. ⛳ Haaland, who limped off on international duty, is fit. Maresca said he had two or three days off, played golf and recovered. Foden serves the last game of his ban, while Semenyo and O'Reilly are doubts. 📊 By the numbers • City: five wins from five, 15 points (1st) vs Liverpool: two wins, three draws, 9 points (6th) • League goals: Haaland 5 (1st), Isak 4 (2nd) • Iraola is unbeaten in his last 26 matches, including his time at Bournemouth • Opta: City win 40.7%, Liverpool win 34.6%, draw 24.7% 👀 What to watch 🎯 Liverpool without Isak — the league's second-top scorer and his main supplier are both missing. Koumas or Barcola as a false nine is the first big call. 🔥 The Anfield atmosphere — Liverpool lost several title races to City, including 2014. Watch whether City wobble on their first trip since the verdict. 🧱 Haaland v Liverpool's defence — Haaland has scored against every team he has faced in the league, but only got his first Anfield goal on his fourth visit last February. 🔭 Why it matters A City win would open a nine-point gap on Liverpool; a Liverpool win would cut it to three. Kick-off is 4.30pm (UK) on 11 October at Anfield, and City host PSG in the Champions League three days later, on 14 October.