Cody Gakpo Injury Update: Liverpool Star Forced Off After Brutal Tackle Against Serbia

Dutch forward Cody Gakpo was forced off during the early stages of the Netherlands' match against Serbia on Sunday, raising fresh concerns for both his national team and club side Liverpool. The attacker was substituted after going down following a heavy, scissor-like tackle from Serbian midfielder Sasa Lukic in the 12th minute. Although Gakpo attempted to continue playing and even delivered a cross shortly after, he went down in the 16th minute due to the impact of the initial challenge. He was ultimately replaced by Ruben van Bommel after a shot from Serbia's Joveljic went out of play. The setback leaves supporters eagerly waiting for an official Cody Gakpo Injury Update ahead of upcoming fixtures.

Cody Gakpo's injury: What Happened?

The incident occurred early in the first half of the fixture against Serbia. As Gakpo wrestled his way infield, Sasa Lukic slid in with an aggressive scissor-like challenge inside the center circle, which earned the Serbian midfielder the first yellow card of the match. Despite taking the brunt of the challenge, Gakpo initially stayed on the pitch and continued to contribute, whipping in a cross looking for Meerdink inside the box in the 14th minute.

However, two minutes later, the lingering impact of the tackle became too much, and the forward went down on the grass. As the Dutch coaching staff quickly prepared Ruben van Bommel on the sidelines, Gakpo made way following a stop in play. A clearer picture regarding the true severity of the Cody Gakpo Injury will emerge once medical staff conduct comprehensive tests and scans after the match.

Cody Gakpo Return Date

Determining a definitive Cody Gakpo return date remains difficult until formal medical evaluation and imaging results are complete. If the evaluation indicates only minor bruising or a light contusion from the Lukic tackle, Gakpo could potentially return to action within a short period after brief rest and treatment. However, if the impact resulted in deeper structural or joint damage, his recovery period could extend over several weeks.

Both the Netherlands and Liverpool backroom teams will monitor his progress closely. A comprehensive Cody Gakpo Injury Update is expected once the player undergoes complete assessments, which will confirm how long the versatile attacker will be sidelined.