After three weeks away, Premier League football returns with a seismic clash as Manchester City arrive at Anfield.
Off-pitch headlines have dominated the international break, but all the noise fades the moment the whistle blows at L4. City face an ultimate test inside a hostile Anfield cauldron, while Andoni Iraola’s Reds carry the weight of an emotionally charged Kop expecting a huge performance.
On the pitch, Iraola faces major selection headaches. Key attacking figures Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo are both ruled out, leaving big gaps in the forward line. Marquee signing Bradley Barcola is searching for his first Liverpool goal, while youngster Lewis Koumas is pushing for an opportunity.
How will these forced changes shape Iraola’s starting XI for Sunday’s showdown? Our Rush the Kop writers have had their say:
Hugo Mirabel-Hardy
This fixture always stands out in the calendar when it gets released, doesn’t it? And ever since the news dropped regarding City’s 115 charges, this game has looked bigger than ever.
Which makes it all the more frustrating that the Reds won't be at full throttle for this one. Losing both Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo over the international break is a bitter blow for Andoni Iraola, stripping Liverpool of two major weapons and leaving the squad dangerously light at centre-forward just when they need firepower most.
As a result, the rest of the squad is likely to pick itself, but the front four will be up for much debate.
Does Andoni Iraola try to replicate Slot’s masterclass at the Etihad two years ago with a 4-2-2-2 system and no ‘proper’ number 9? We’ll see.
Otherwise, the backline largely picks itself. Alisson Becker starts in goal behind a back four featuring stalwarts Ronald Araujo at right-back and Milos Kerkez on the left. Captain Virgil van Dijk will be partnered by Jeremy Jacquet, who has been passed fit following a brief injury scare with France over the international break.
Here is where it gets interesting. I think that Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister will be the deeper midfielders, while Florian Wirtz plays in the number 10.
Victor Munoz and Bradley Barcola will be on the wings, and Dominik Szoboszlai will play up top as a false 9 of sorts. His relentless pressing could be key in a fixture like this.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Munoz, Wirtz, Barcola; Szoboszlai.
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Samuel Hackett
With the international break not being particularly kind to Liverpool, Iraola has some selection dilemmas ahead of his toughest test yet as Reds manager.
Starting off with the obvious, the defence in front of Alisson Becker picks itself. The golden rule is simple: if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it and Liverpool’s backline has been anything but broken so far. With three clean sheets already tucked away in the league, Iraola’s defensive blueprint is proving to be a formidable foundation.
The quartet of Kerkez, Van Dijk, Jacquet and Araujo are starting to gel and will definitely all start against City.
Into the midfield and i’m sticking with Iraola’s preferred three of MacAllister, Szoboszlai and Wirtz.
Considering the Reds’ depleted attacking options, you could make a case to start Ryan Gravenberch to pack out the centre of the park with an extra body.
However Iraola’s lack of faith in the Dutchman this season makes me question whether he will throw Liverpool’s midfielder in for his sides toughest test yet.
With Gakpo and Isak expected to be absent, this should give a huge opportunity to two of Liverpool’s younger attackers.
Up front, Bradley Barcola is a guaranteed starter through the middle, leading the line in the absence of Isak and Gakpo. Operating either side of the Frenchman, I expect Andoni Iraola to throw a curveball by handing Lewis Koumas the nod on the left wing, with Victor Muñoz deployed on the right flank to provide that raw pace and direct energy needed to stretch Manchester City's backline.
Both have shown outstanding work rates for Iraola this season and their tenacity and ability to press will be useful in what’s expected to be a feisty atmosphere.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson, Kerkez, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Araujo, MacAllister, Szoboszlai, Barcola, Koumas, Munoz
Adam Coward
After three weeks of international break, Liverpool are finally back in action and Iraola is set for his biggest test so far as Liverpool manager against an unbeaten Manchester City side.
With the magnitude of the occasion in mind, Alisson will retain his place between the sticks after three successive Premier League clean sheets. The same goes for the back four, with Jeremy Jacquet passing fit despite injury speculation and set for a big test against Erling Haaland.
Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai should be favoured once again over Ryan Gravenberch in midfield, with Iraola approaching the level of balance he is looking for. Florian Wirtz should be given another chance in the no.10 role after a successful international break with Germany.
Despite speculation surrounding Bradley Barcola starting centrally, I think Iraola-favourite and pressing machine Lewis Koumas should be given the start. I don’t expect Koumas will play the full 90, so Barcola may well finish the game centrally. With Barcola starting off the left, Munoz should start over Rio on the right, where he looks far more familiar in that role.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Kerkez, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Araujo; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Barcola, Wirtz, Munoz; Koumas
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