Liverpool open their Premier League season at Newcastle United on Sunday week and Andoni Iraola has an interesting call to make up front
Alexander Isak next to Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola during the pre-season friendly against Monaco at Anfield on August 9 2026
Alexander Isak next to Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola during the pre-season friendly against Monaco at Anfield on August 9 2026
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Whenever Liverpool and Newcastle United lock horns, there tend to be goals. Lots of them, in fact, with the 62 Premier League matches in which they have faced off seeing 198 of them at a rate of more than three a game.
The latest instalment kicks off the campaign for the Reds on Sunday week at St James' Park and represents the first competitive game in charge for new head coach Andoni Iraola.
Iraola will have some tough decisions to make, not least up front where Liverpool go into a season without Mohamed Salah for the first time in a decade.
But with any prospective new signings having little time to adjust, which three players should comprise the attack on Tyneside? Our ECHO writers have their say...
Ian Doyle
Andoni Iraola has already insisted new signing Victor Munoz won't be considered for a start for the season opener having only returned to pre-season training last week.
And with any new signings between now and the trip to Tyneside having even less time to adapt, it seems Liverpool are going to have to go with what they have at present - which, in a way, makes Iraola's job a whole lot easier.
Alexander Isak is most definitely going to start on his first return to Newcastle United since his controversial exit almost 12 months previous, although the tributes to Liverpool and Magpies legend Kevin Keegan will hopefully replace any unnecessary rancour.
Cody Gakpo remains an important player despite an iffy last season and showed against Monaco that he is fit and raring to go, and should be a certainty on the left.
Which leaves the problem position on the right flank. Kieran Morrison and Federico Chiesa have both had a go of late, but it's telling that Rio Ngumoha has had significant minutes on that wing and is the most likely to complete the triumvirate, with Florian Wirtz in behind Isak as the number 10.
Theo Squires
With little over a week to go until the start of Liverpool’s Premier League campaign, Victor Munoz remains their only new arrival in attack. If the Reds want to strengthen Andoni Iraola’s front-line ahead of their opening trip to Newcastle United, they are running out of time.
Talks are ongoing with Paris Saint-Germain regarding a move for Bradley Barcola. In a dream world Liverpool manage to snap up both the Frenchman and a further forward before the transfer window closes on September 1.
Such recruitment is still needed following Mohamed Salah’s departure, with Hugo Ekitike sidelined until the New Year and uncertainty surrounding Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa’s futures ongoing.
But even if Liverpool were to get Barcola in through the door before their trip to St James’ Park, it would be bold to start him straight from the off. He has only just returned to training after his World Cup exploits and was an unused substitute for PSG’s European Super Cup win over Aston Villa.
Consequently, it would be best for Iraola to go with what he already knows against Newcastle, even if it will not be the first-choice front three further into the season.
Alexander Isak is an obvious choice upfront and is sure to relish what will be a fiery first return to St. James’ Park following his controversial Newcastle exit last summer.
With no natural replacement for Salah yet signed, Rio Ngumoha can start on the right.
Meanwhile, Gakpo gets the nod over Munoz on the left. He struggled last season but that does not make him a bad player. It remains to be seen if he’ll move on this month, but from Iraola’s current options, the Dutchman is Premier League-proven and has to be first-choice.
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Mark Jones
There are plenty of, fairly noisy, people who for some reason or other seem to have decided that they would never like to see Cody Gakpo kick a ball for Liverpool again, so the team line-up for the opening weekend trip to Newcastle is likely to be a tough pill for them to swallow.
Because not only should the Dutchman be in it, he is likely to be a key player for the Reds due to both slow progress in the transfer market and the home side's own issues.
If you think Liverpool have had a rough summer then Newcastle have got some news for you, and with Tino Livramento injured the right-backs for Wednesday's 3-1 defeat to Everton in Edinburgh were 19-year-old Leo Shahar and 18-year-old Henry Johnson.
Should either start against the Reds then Gakpo's physicality and directness are sure to pose problems for them, and he should be a good outlet for a visiting side who will be looking to dominate both possession and territory from the off.
With Gakpo on the left and Alexander Isak set for his lively welcome back to Tyneside, Rio Ngumoha can get a start on the right with Victor Munoz, one who got away from the hosts, making his competitive debut from the bench.