Liverpool travel to St James’ Park this weekend as they open their 2026/27 Premier League campaign, which will also see Andoni Iraola lead Liverpool into a competitive game for the first time.
Here is a predicted lineup for the game factoring in the team that played in the final preseason game and anything we learned from that match.
**Alisson Becker**
Alisson will retain his place as Liverpool’s number one, and fans will be hoping he remains fit for longer periods throughout this season. The Brazilian kept eight clean sheets in 26 Premier League games last season. Giorgi Mamardashvili is his biggest competition but didn’t massively impress in pre-season.
**Jeremie Frimpong**
Frimpong comes into the season as basically the only fit senior right back. He will offer a strong attacking presence on the right-hand side, and if he can stay fit this season, he will be looking to build his presence in the Liverpool squad more.
**Jeremy Jacquet**
Jacquet made a dream start at Anfield in his 45-minute appearance against Como; for that reason, I would imagine that he will be trusted to start the first game against Newcastle. Ronald Araujo could start in this position after he played the second half against Como last week.
**Virgil van Dijk**
Virgil van Dijk is ready to lead the Liverpool side after a 2025/26 that was littered with mistakes early on but improved as the year went on. When things seemed to be going wrong, Van Dijk needs to be ready to bring those around him to a higher standard. He will have a new defensive partner beside him in either Jeremy Jacquet or Ronald Araujo, and this will need his leadership to adapt to the pace of the Premier League.
**Milos Kerkez**
It was Kerkez’s form under Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth that earned his move to Liverpool at the start of last season.
His work-rate down the left will be very important and as his relationship with Virgil van Dijk improved, so did Liverpool’s defensive ability and clean sheet potential. Hopefully Kerkez has been a leader in implementing Iraola’s system to the squad and this should give him greater ownership of his place within the team.
**Ryan Gravenberch**
Gravenberch has been a stalwart of the Liverpool side for the last two years under Arne Slot. He will likely start the season in his defensive role, but could face competition from the returning Alexis Mac Allister or youngster Trey Nyoni in as we move into the remainder of the season.
**Dominik Szoboszlai**
Szoboszlai was Liverpool’s player of the year last year and in preseason he looks set to be a crucial player once again. His work rate suits Iraola’s style and has been named as one of the club’s vice-captains after the departure of Andy Robertson. He is important with his set-piece ability and also Liverpool’s top assisted and fourth top goal scorer in the Premier League last year. He will drop deeper this season when everyone is fully fit.
**Florian Wirtz**
Wirtz will be looking to make massive improvements to his form from last season. He finished last season with five goals and three assists, both numbers that he will be looking to at least double. Wirtz will play in the number 10 role having been moved about in position a lot last season.
**Rio Ngumoha**
Ngumoha offered crazy excitement to Liverpool fans last season when he scored the winner at Newcastle last season. He was even added to Thomas Tuchel’s pre World Cup training camp and made his England debut. This could be a breakout year for the young winger who looks like he could trusted on the right this year by Andoni Iraola,
**Alexander Isak**
Isak returns to St James’ Park for the first time since leaving the club in 2025. The striker managed only 714 minutes Premier League minutes and scored three goals in that time. In the scoring of the second of those goals against Spurs, he picked up a serious ankle injury. Isak will be looking to get back to full fitness and back to his best this season.
**Cody Gakpo**
Gakpo has been heavily linked with a move to Spurs, but rumours suggest he has impressed Iraola in preseason and he may want to remain at Liverpool. With seven goals he was Liverpool’s joint second scorer in the league and with five assists, he was the third assister for the club.