Andoni Iraola's first competitive match as Liverpool manager sees the Reds take on Newcastle United this Sunday.
Liverpool FC v Como Calcio - Pre-Season Friendly
Rio Ngumoha will be used regularly on the right wing by Liverpool this season (Image: Getty)
Andoni Iraola's Liverpool tenure begins with a trip to the new-look Newcastle United as Alexander Isak comes face-to-face with his old club. The Reds have had a quiet summer transfer window so far and have yet to replace the legendary Mohamed Salah, who left as a free agent. Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate also left for nothing in what has been an offseason of huge change at Anfield.
But Iraola will be hoping to start the season strong with a big away win against Matthias Jaissle's men, who have also had a huge squad overhaul. Captain Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier have all left as the Magpies also enter a new era under a new manager. Express Sport looks at how Liverpool could line up against Newcastle...
The Liverpool No.1 will undoubtedly start over Giorgi Mamardashvili here. The Brazilian, 33, only kept eight Premier League clean sheets last season and will be eager to start the new season with a shut-out. But Liverpool have conceded six goals across their last three trips to St James' Park, so they have their work cut out for them, even against a new-look Newcastle team.
With Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni all unavailable, Liverpool's defence picks itself in several positions. Milos Kerkez will start at left-back as he looks to rediscover the form he showed under Iraola at Bournemouth. Jeremie Frimpong will start at right-back with Bradley and Gomez out injured.
New signings Ronald Araujo and Jeremy Jacquet both played 45 minutes in the friendly against Como at Anfield last weekend and are in competition for a starting spot at centre-back. The assured Frenchman really caught the eye in the first half so should partner captain Virgil van Dijk for at least an hour on Tyneside.
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Liverpool FC v AS Monaco - Pre-Season Friendly
Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz will be key for Liverpool at Newcastle (Image: Getty)
Alexis Mac Allister returned to the Liverpool pre-season camp late after playing in the World Cup final with Argentina. While Trey Nyoni shone in pre-season, he won't be selected to start here, where Iraola will select Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch. Curtis Jones won't be in the squad as he completes his £30million move to Inter Milan. Wataru Endo, Mac Allister and Nyoni will be the options to change the game from the bench.
Still looking to justify his £116m, Florian Wirtz will act as the foil to £125m striker Alexander Isak. The pair will play virtually as a front two as Isak makes his first return to St James' since forcing a move from Newcastle to Liverpool. With Mohamed Salah having left the Merseyside club, Iraola needs the duo to step up.
On the left, Cody Gakpo could play what is potentially his final match for Liverpool. The Reds want Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham want the Dutchman. But he will be required to start in the north east, which would mean Rio Ngumoha is asked to play on the right-hand side. Summer arrival Victor Munoz could replace him after an hour or so.
Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak
Mamardashvili, Araujo, Tsimikas, Endo, Mac Allister, Nyoni, Elliott, Chiesa, Munoz.