Liverpool is still in search of its first win of the season as it travels to Ipswich, with Andoni Iraola facing decisions over new signing Bradley Barcola and others
ANFIELD, ENGLAND - AUGUST 31: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Bradley Barcola of Liverpool at Anfield on August 31, 2026 in Anfield, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Bradley Barcola is in line to make his Liverpool debut against Ipswich(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool has some added firepower as it goes in search of its first win of the new season at Ipswich later.
After back-to-back draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, Andoni Iraola will be desperate to get three points under his belt, and provide an answer to some of the Reds’ critics.
Question marks have been raised after Liverpool’s opening two performances, with some issues still lingering in certain areas from last season. With Bradley Barcola now in place after completing his long-awaited move from Paris Saint-Germain though, Iraola and his side shouldn’t have too many problems when it comes to its attack.
The French international winger was unveiled on Monday after a $166 million deal was struck, and Liverpool’s head coach has confirmed he will be in line to make his debut at Ipswich. The question is, will he start?
"I see him in a good place. He has trained for us, it's true he hasn't had minutes in pre-season,” Iraola said on Thursday.
“He has been training, and it's a decision we have to make. But we have to consider he hasn't had minutes in pre-season games."
While Barcola will undoubtedly add quality to Liverpool, asking him to start after arriving on Merseyside just a few days ago might be a little too much of an ask - especially given he hasn’t played since the World Cup.
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He has at least trained though, so he will be able to take his place on the bench, ready to make his bow at some stage during the game.
With Barcola not starting, we’d expect today’s team to take on a similar look to last weekend’s draw against Forest. In fact, Iraola may choose to go unchanged.
Alisson Becker starts as usual in goal, while the back four seems to be pretty much set in stone at this stage. Jeremie Frimpong, Jeremy Jacquet and Milos Kerkez should get the nod alongside captain Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola talks with Dominik Szoboszlai
Andoni Iraola could go with an unchanged team at Ipswich(Image: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
There is a question over who should start in midfield. You’d imagine Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz will both be in, so it’s a straight shootout between Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch for the remaining spot - we’ll stick with the former for now.
And in attack, with Barcola being held back, Victor Munoz and Cody Gakpo should start again either side of Alexander Isak. Both have impressed thus far, and while there might be some doubts over Gakpo’s future after being lined up for a move to Manchester City, he deserves to be backed.
Liverpool predicted line-up vs Ipswich: Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Gakpo, Isak, Munoz.