If you are looking at your Fantasy Premier League squad ahead of the weekend, you aren't alone in facing a few major selection dilemmas.
As Liverpool prepare to welcome Manchester City to Anfield for Sunday's huge showdown, the tactical picture under Andoni Iraola is becoming much clearer even as injuries to key men force some unexpected reshuffling.
Whether you are looking to capitalise on the Reds' recent defensive solidity or searching for an under-the-radar differential to jump up your mini-league standings, there is plenty to weigh up from an FPL perspective.
Between Florian Wirtz's new focal role, Dominik Szoboszlai's set-piece dominance, and a bargain defensive double-act.
Here is everything you need to know about the best Liverpool assets for your team right now.
Florian Wirtz (£7.3m – Midfielder)
Wirtz arrived this season priced at a surprisingly generous £7.3m valuation, making him an incredibly attractive option for FPL managers seeking high-upside midfield cover. Under Andoni Iraola, his tactical positioning in a fluid 4-2-3-1 shape often sees him pushing higher into the opposition penalty area, operating almost in tandem with the primary central forward.
Wirtz has come in at a lower FPL this time around than the season prior, and with a full Premier League season now under his belt, as well as a new manager at the helm, could the German make a mockery of his £7.5m valuation?
According to Fantasy Premier League Scout The 23-year-old managed nine attacking returns in 27 starts last season amid a chaotic campaign for the Reds, but there is reason to believe he could substantially improve upon the five goals he scored last season.
If you're weighing up whether to trust Wirtz in your Fantasy Premier League team or expecting him to make a defining statement when Manchester City come to Anfield, the momentum has shifted decisively in his favour over the international break.
Despite facing heavy scrutiny after a quiet start to the 2026/27 domestic campaign, the 23-year-old German star returns to Merseyside with his confidence hopefully restored.
Operating as the heartbeat of the German side under none other than former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp, Wirtz produced a standout international break scoring against Serbia, starring in his favoured central attacking role, and even captaining his country for the first time.
Jérémy Jacquet (£5.0m – Defender)
Jacquet has locked down a starting berth alongside Virgil van Dijk, yielding impressive baseline FPL points through defensive actions and clean sheets.
According to FPL scout: "Jacquet has started all five Premier League matches in a centre-back pairing with club captain Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m). The summer arrival has registered 24 points in FPL so far courtesy of three clean sheets, two defensive contribution points and three bonus points."
"Defenders can register two defensive contributions points in each fixture of the season. To do this, they need to record 10 defensive actions (clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles). Jacquet registered 11 against Nottingham Forest in Gameweek 2... The defender is currently averaging 4.8 points per start."
There was a collective intake of breath across the Liverpool fanbase when news filtered through during the international break that Jérémy Jacquet was carrying a minor hamstring issue.
Having started all five Premier League games alongside Virgil van Dijk and anchoring a defense that kept three consecutive clean sheets, losing the young Frenchman right before Manchester City's visit was the last thing Andoni Iraola needed especially given the existing absences of Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo.
However, Iraola provided complete clarity in his pre-match press conference, extinguishing any fitness doubts and confirming that Jacquet is fully fit and ready to go for Sunday’s clash at Anfield.
Jacquet earned his senior debut for France during the international break, putting in an impressive display before sitting out Les Bleus'second fixture against Belgium due to a minor hamstring strain.Iraola revealed that missing that match was purely a protective measure rather than a serious setback:
"Yeah, he's fit, he's ready to go. I think he didn't play with the national team in the last game because of protection. But he should be fine. We still need to train tomorrow, but he's fine, yes."
With Jacquet cleared for action, Iraola can maintain his settled central defensive partnership alongside Van Dijk as the Reds prepare to face Erling Haaland and Manchester City's formidable attack.
Bradley Barcola (£8.0m – Midfielder)
With both Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo ruled out of Sunday’s match, Barcola is lined up for a central attacking role that could unlock his immense upside:
"Barcola has started two Premier League games and made three league appearances overall since his transfer to the Reds this summer. And his underlying numbers suggest that attacking returns are coming, including one big chance and two chances created for his teammates so far."
"The winger scored 21 goals and registered 18 assists in 58 matches in all competitions during the 2024-2025 season for Paris Saint-Germain... Barcola is currently owned by just 1.9 per cent of FPL managers, and this could be a great time to invest."
Much like Florian Wirtz, Barcola arrived on Merseyside for a massive transfer fee and has faced immediate scrutiny from external critics after failing to register a goal or an assist in his initial outings for the Reds.
However, speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Manchester City's visit to Anfield, Andoni Iraola launched a passionate defence of the 23-year-old French attacker, emphasizing his complete value to the team's setup:
"I don't think he is in a bad moment. With wingers, if they don't score, they haven't played well (the opinion), but we have to see the game as a whole."
"I care, I want him to see that and he has been with the national team, I want him to be there [scoring the chances]. He has played as a left winger and also as a striker, so he can cover three positions up front."
With Isak and Gakpo out, Sunday's blockbusting fixture gives Barcola the exact central stage he needs to produce a breakout performance and silence the critics.
Now, with a 12-week appeal window ticking away for the visitors and a fire ignited under the home support, Sunday presents the ultimate test of resilience.
If Liverpool can channel the roaring emotion inside the ground, exploit City's off-pitch distractions, and unleash a rejuvenated frontline featuring Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola, it won't just be a statement victory it will feel like a long-overdue moment of justice. All eyes fall on Anfield at 4:30pm to see who blinks first.
Dominik Szoboszlai (£6.9m)
It is easy to see why panic is setting in across the FPL community, with over 264,000 managers hitting the sell button on Dominik Szoboszlai ahead of Gameweek 6.
After an electric eight-point start at Newcastle, his solitary attacking return across five games and a price drop to £6.9m have left owners frustrated. With undefeated Manchester City coming to Anfield, many view him as an expendable "GW6 problem."
But for us Kopites, writing him off now feels like a classic mistake. This is the exact fixture where he steps up he scored a stunning direct free-kick against City at Anfield last season, proving he thrives when the intensity reaches boiling point.
Beyond his big-game pedigree, Szoboszlai retains the most reliable routes to points of almost any midfielder in his price bracket.
As Andoni Iraola’s primary set-piece specialist and confirmed penalty taker stepping up ahead of everyone to convert in GW1 his goal-threat floor remains incredibly high. While critics point out that eight teammates have bettered his total of one shot inside the box, evaluating him purely on 18-yard box touches misses the point entirely.
Perfection ✨ pic.twitter.com/grbWUFqM2B
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 16, 2026
He sits among the top two players at the club for almost every other attacking metric, from overall shots and key passes to expected assists. He is a master of box-crashing runs and long-range thunderbolts, and those underlying numbers mean the returns are bound to follow.
With Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo sidelined, Szoboszlai's 90-minute security is more vital than ever while other mid-priced midfielders face heavy rotation.
Selling a guaranteed starter on set pieces and penalties who ranks at the top of Liverpool's creative metrics right before an emotionally charged Anfield clash has all the hallmarks of a transfer you will regret by Sunday night.
The £0.1m price drop is already baked in, so don't let a brief five-game drought blind you to his quality; hold the line and let the Hungarian show why he was our dream pick in the first place.
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