Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has confirmed his starting XI to take on Brentford in the Premier League with decisions made on Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz
Liverpool attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz.
Liverpool attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz.(Image: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Liverpool has confirmed its starting XI to take on Brentford in the Premier League, with Alexander Isak and Dominik Szoboszlai returning after they missed the last couple of games through injury.
Alisson Becker is in goal, with Ronald Araujo, Jeremy Jacquet, Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez making up the back four. Szoboszai, who was with the team in LASK midweek but not an official part of the matchday squad, joins Alexis Mac Allister in midfield.
In attack, the Champions League hat-trick hero Bradley Barcola will be looking to build on those exploits. He is joined by Florian Wirtz, another who will be hoping to take another step forward, Isak and Victor Munoz. Cody Gakpo returns to make the bench.
"It's more difficult," Iraola said on Thursday when he was asked about facing Brentford off the back of a European away trip with such a short turnaround.
"We played yesterday night, came here late, and we didn't sleep how we normally sleep. But this is the challenge of playing. It is almost a constant this season so we have to adapt.
"We have four days in between two games not normal but we have to adapt. We can rest some and give some minutes, so I expect everyone to be at their best mentally and physically. We have to be ready for a battle."
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola(Image: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Brentford boss Keith Andrews was asked about new midfielder Mamadou Sangare during his pre-match press conference.
The Malian, who is among the subs here, started very well with his new side before going off the boil — including being hooked at half-time against Sunderland at the start of September.
"It's no real reflection on him that he came out of the starting team. We have got a really good squad and really good options," Andrews insisted.
"Mamadou has been outstanding since he’s come in. I think everyone knows that with the accolades and plaudits he’s had about the start to his Premier League season and how he came in during pre-season and lit it up.
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"He’s so dynamic in the way he plays and he’s such an infectious player. That hasn’t changed. Mamadou will play a lot more games and a lot more minutes for us.
"It’s difficult picking the team and the main message to the group is that it’s going to be a long season. We’ve got games coming where the squad will get really tested. If we want to achieve a really special season, we’re going to need everybody."
Liverpool starting XI: Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Munoz, Wirtz, Barcola; Isak. Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Gakpo, Tsimikas, Frimpong, Nyoni, Koumas, Ngumoha.