Andoni Iraola
Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Liverpool are dealing with a number of major injury concerns ahead of their clash with Manchester City on Sunday at Anfield in their return to Premier League action.
The Reds have had an unbeaten start to the season in all competitions so far under Spanish boss Andoni Iraola, who replaced Arne Slot in the summer, with two wins and three draws in the top flight, while they have also won against Atletico Madrid and Tottenham in the Champions League and EFL Cup, respectively.
But after a prolonged international break, Iraola is set to be without star attackers Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo for the visit of the current table-toppers, in their first game since being found guilty of 114 charges relating to financial breaches.
As a result, Liverpool are likely to start with Bradley Barcola, Rio Ngumoha and Victor Munoz in attack, while youngster Lewis Koumas is pushing for a rare start after appearing, and impressing, in the EFL Cup earlier in the campaign.
But the team will want to ensure they are at their strongest, and that means the manager may be forced to consider moving away from his usual system and shape to get the best players into the team.
Florian Wirtz was on the scoresheet for Germany during the international break, while Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, and Ryan Gravenberch are the most senior options to play in midfield. However, one star has staked his claim for a starting spot and deserves to get the nod as a result.
Trey Nyoni Must Start for Liverpool vs Man City
Liverpool's Trey Nyoni reacts after the match
Liverpool's Trey Nyoni reacts after the match
Liverpool's midfield options are arguably where they are strongest with their squad at the moment, and the manager shouldn't be afraid to dip into those options for this game.
Wirtz has been badly out of form at club level, while Barcola has hardly hit the ground running since his £123m move from Paris Saint-Germain during the summer window. But he offers pace and quality on the counter-attack, while he has played at the very highest level, while Wirtz has shown in the past that can has the keys to unlock defences.
With Ngumoha and Munoz also pushing for starts, and Szoboszlai arguably undroppable for Liverpool at the moment, the final midfield position is up for grabs.
Mac Allister hasn't looked like his usual self in the last 18 months, and Gravenberch has struggled greatly in Iraola's system so far this season. One man who has impressed, though, is youngster Trey Nyoni.
He turned in a man of the match performance in his only start so far this season, but has only featured for 100 minutes in all competitions. His ability in possession, size, physical profile, and ball-winning ability would make him a top addition to the midfield for a tough game, and would show that the manager has great faith in him.
Nyoni deserves a start, and if Iraola needs to drop one of the more senior midfielders or forwards to get him in then he should. It could be the difference between winning and losing.
Andoni Iraola (Liverpool)
Andoni Iraola (Liverpool)