Liverpool fans react to lineup for Manchester City clash (Image source: Getty)
Liverpool fans react to lineup for Manchester City clash (Image source: Getty)
Liverpool fans are in disbelief as Dominik Szoboszlai has been left out of the matchday squad for their Premier League clash with Manchester City.
Reds boss Andoni Iraola made three changes to the team that started their last outing – a 1-0 win over Bournemouth. 21-year-old Lewis Koumas makes his first league start for Liverpool while Victor Munoz and Ryan Gravenberch return to the squad.
Szoboszlai is a surprise absentee from today’s matchday squad. According to The Athletic’s James Pearce, the Hungary international has been ruled out of the match due to a hamstring problem.
That leaves Liverpool with an uphill task as they look to maintain their unbeaten start to the season without Szoboszlai, who has arguably been their best player so far.
The midfielder’s absence has left fans worried about the potential outcome of their clash against table-topping Manchester City.
One wrote:
“Szobo, Gakpo and Isak all out. It’s wraps man, all that hype for nothing.”
Another tweeted:
“No, szobo f*s man. I still believe in us COME ON YOU REDS!”
A third remarked:
“Szobo not in the squad.”
“No Szobo. We are definitely getting an L,” said another.
“No Szobo, Isak and Gakpo is dark but let’s hope it’s just short term issues,” another chimed in.
Liverpool: Alisson, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez, Wirtz, Mac Allister, Munoz, Barcola, Araujo, Gravenberch, Koumas.
Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Chiesa, Tsimikas, Frimpong, Nyoni, McConnell, Ngumoha.
Liverpool ready for Manchester City test – Iraola
Iraola described their upcoming clash with City as “a very big challenge” and said it is an opportunity to test themselves against a team that is currently doing well. Like Liverpool, City are unbeaten in the league.
“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,” Iraola wrote in his matchday programme 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. 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.
While a number of his first-team players will sit out the clash due to fitness issues, Iraola sent a message to their rivals, saying they will be as ready as they can.
“Of course, first we will have to see how everyone is after the international break. It is well known that we picked up a couple of fitness issues that we could have done without during that period, but by the time this game kicks off we will be as ready as we can be,” he added.
Ahead of the clash, Liverpool sit eighth in the table with nine points, six points behind City.