Andoni Iraola now knows his full range of options for the first half of the season, and he has a big decision to make over Dominik Szoboszlai‘s place.
As Iraola said, Liverpool have gone for quality over quantity this summer, leaving the new coach with a thin squad but with a strong attack when everybody is fit.
It is in other areas, namely the right and the midfield, where he may have to make difficult choices, beginning at Portman Road.
Here’s how Liverpool could line up.
Liverpool team news vs. Ipswich: Andoni Iraola‘s updates
Bradley Barcola “will definitely be available” vs. Ipswich, “if everything goes well” in Thursday training
Joe Gomez is expected to “probably start training” next week
Federico Chiesa “should be” out for the next three weeks
Liverpool’s XI vs. Ipswich
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo (L) celebrates with team-mate captain Virgil van Dijk after scoring his side's first and equalising goal during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo (L) celebrates with team-mate captain Virgil van Dijk after scoring his side's first and equalising goal during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
While Barcola is available and has been training, it is more likely that he sits on the bench against Ipswich given that he hasn’t played since July 18.
That leaves Cody Gakpo to retain his place on the left while Victor Munoz plays on the right as he looks to build on an excellent start.
In midfield, Szoboszlai could be dropped after a poor performance against Nottingham Forest in which he didn’t look suited to playing in Iraola’s midfield.
In this scenario, Jeremie Frimpong would play at right-back, though last weekend’s showing could well be the point the manager decides to change things.
Here are the likely selection options:
Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak start a third consecutive game together as they try to develop a partnership
Jeremy Jacquet and Virgil van Dijk stay together in a promising centre-back partnership
Ryan Gravenberch comes back in to play next to Alexis Mac Allister, who had a good second half vs. Forest
This is how Liverpool would line up:
Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Munoz, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak
Of course, Iraola may well have seen enough from his team over the last 180 minutes to know something needs to change.
“I haven’t found any situations where any player has told me, ‘I don’t want to play here’,” Iraola responded when asked about the possibility of Szoboszlai playing right-back.
“If we have to play him as a right-winger, as a right-back, as a left-back, I think he’s ready to do it. I think he wants to help the team first.”
Meanwhile, Barcola could start if Iraola believes he has trained at a level that suggests he is ready to be thrown straight in.
Szoboszlai plays at right-back, despite the club handing him a new contract over the summer that includes wages of nearly £300,000 per week
Barcola makes his full debut, meaning Gakpo is dropped to the bench due to Munoz being the better option on the right
Milos Kerkez starts again because the only other senior left-back is Kostas Tsimikas
Here’s how this alternate team would look:
Alisson; Szoboszlai, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Munoz, Wirtz, Barcola; Isak
While Iraola works out where players fit best, it will be difficult to predict how Liverpool line up in the early weeks of the campaign.
As the season plays out, we should see a clearer picture of his plan, but it does seem to heavily rely on the likes of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak staying fit in attack.
Football – FA Premier League – Newcastle United FC v Liverpool FC
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
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Football – Pre-Season Friendly – Liverpool FC v AS Monaco
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo is challenged by Monaco's Lamine Camara (L) during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)