Liverpool has confirmed its starting XI to take on Man City in the Premier League, with decisions made on how to replace the injured Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo
Florian Wirtz and Alexis Mac Allister emerge for a Liverpool training session.
Florian Wirtz and Alexis Mac Allister emerge for a Liverpool training session.(Image: Nikki Dyer/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola has named his starting XI to take on Manchester City at Anfield, with decisions made on how to replace the injured Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai also absent.
Alisson Becker is in goal, with the usual back four of Ronald Araujo, Jeremy Jacquet, Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez comprising the defense. Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch are in midfield, with Bradley Barcola, Victor Munoz, Florian Wirtz and Lewis Koumas completing the team.
With so many recent injury setbacks, Liverpool is lacking depth as a result of the international break, but Rio Ngumoha is among the substitutes. The Reds have another eight games after this one before the next pause in November.
"It is great to be back at Anfield after such a long gap, especially seeing as we return to such a big game against Manchester City," Reds head coach Iraola writes in his matchday program notes.
"This is my first involvement in this fixture but, like everyone who is interested in football, I know exactly what it means both in terms of the quality of the two teams and the rivalry that has built up over the years.
"We are playing against a City side which is top of the league having won all of the games they have played so far this season.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - AUGUST 21: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Andoni Iraola head coach of Liverpool during a press conference at AXA Training Centre on August 21, 2026 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola speaking during a Liverpool press conference(Image: Getty Images)
"So it is a very big challenge but it is also one that gives us an opportunity to test ourselves against a team which is doing so well and see where we are.
"It does seem like a long time ago now but we had another of these tests in our last fixture before the international break.
"We came through that positively with a very good win away to Bournemouth, so we will be looking to do the same today.
"For this to happen, we are going to have to perform at or very near to our best. This is the standard that we will need to reach and this is why I always say that the team is the most important thing.
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"Everyone has to buy into that idea. I have to help the team and every individual has to help the team.
"If we can do that, every single person within the team will look better and our chances of getting a positive result will only increase."
Manchester City won 2-1 in this fixture last season with Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland scoring to secure a late turnaround. During the international break, it was found guilty of 114 of the charges leveled at it by the Premier League.
Liverpool starting XI: Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Munoz, Wirtz, Barcola; Koumas. Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Chiesa, Tsimikas, Frimpong, Nyoni, McConnell, Ngumoha.