Cody Gakpo has left the Netherlands squad with an ankle injury and returned to Liverpool, less than a fortnight before Manchester City visit Anfield. Liverpool confirmed on Monday that the club's medical staff will assess him at the AXA Training Centre. Neither Liverpool nor the KNVB has given a diagnosis or said how long he will be out.

Gakpo started Sunday's Nations League match in Belgrade, which the Netherlands won 2-1 through two goals from Mexx Meerdink. Shortly after ten minutes, Saša Lukić slid in and caught him, and was booked for the challenge. Gakpo tried to carry on, then asked to come off in the 17th minute, and Ruben van Bommel replaced him. Three days earlier he had volleyed the stoppage-time equaliser against Germany.

At his post-match press conference, Xavi Hernández said the problem was Gakpo's ankle but that he did not know its exact extent, and that he did not expect it to be serious. He said they would know more on Monday. By Monday afternoon the KNVB had ruled Gakpo out of the rest of the window. He will miss Thursday's match in Greece and Serbia's visit to Eindhoven on Sunday, and no replacement is being called up.

Rik Elfrink of the Eindhovens Dagblad has reported that examinations in Eindhoven showed Gakpo will be out for several weeks. Liverpool have not given a timescale.

He is the second Liverpool forward to come home injured. Alexander Isak left the Sweden camp on Sunday with what the Swedish FA called a minor injury, after scoring and playing the full 90 minutes in Friday's 2-1 win over Romania.

He's got a small problem with his thigh. 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.

Graham Potter, Sweden head coach, speaking to reporters on 27 September

Liverpool have given no update on Isak since he returned for assessment.

The two combined for Liverpool's last goal. Gakpo drove down the right at Bournemouth on 20 September, and Isak finished for his fourth Premier League goal of the season in a 1-0 win on Andoni Iraola's return to his old club. That left Liverpool sixth and unbeaten, six points behind the leaders, Manchester City.

City know exactly what Gakpo is worth to Liverpool. On 31 August, Liverpool rejected a bid for him that Sky Sports reported at £80m. Sky Sports said the club were concerned about their chances of signing a replacement before the deadline.

The meeting on Sunday 11 October, kick-off 4.30pm BST, opens a demanding run. Liverpool travel to LASK in the Champions League on Wednesday 14 October and to Brentford on Saturday 17 October, then host Villarreal on Tuesday 20 October.

The longer-term absences are unchanged. Conor Bradley is still working back from knee surgery. Hugo Ekitike is recovering from a ruptured Achilles, and Iraola has said there is a realistic chance he could help in January. Federico Chiesa and Giovanni Leoni were expected back in team training during the break, according to the club.