Brentford v Liverpool - Premier League 2026/27
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Andoni Iraola is quickly having to get used to the reality of his team playing every three or four days, with rotation becoming the biggest factor in his team selections.
Three days after beating LASK in Austria, Liverpool headed to West London to play Brentford. Thankfully, there will no further travel until November for the Reds, as they prepare for four consecutive home matches at Anfield.
Nevertheless, the prospect of another Champions League clash, this time against Villarreal, only three days after the trip to Brentford, means Iraola will have to shuffle his pack again. One of the players most in need of a rest is Florian Wirtz, who played 90 minutes against both LASK and Brentford. Wirtz is beginning to improve after criticism of his start to the season, but Iraola must now take him out of the team to ensure that can continue.
Dominik Szoboszlai is injured 🚨 How do Liverpool replace him?!
This puts a lot of pressure on Mac Allister, but the good news is that Gravenberch has been looking much better. Rotating will be key until the intl break, but Nyoni is also more than good enough to come in as we've seen. Would expect James McConnell to get a couple of appearances here and there as well
Hopefully it’s not a long layoff. In the meantime, I’m happy to have Nyoni or Grav in this place. Ultimately, we need a proper DM in the middle, and that won’t happen until next summer now
Wirtz needs a rest against Villarreal
Although he has obviously had a disappointing first year-and-a-bit at Liverpool, one thing that has at least been on Wirtz’s side has been his availability. The German has rarely been injured.
However, it is still the case that he is getting through more work than almost anyone else in the Liverpool squad, and after covering more than 25km across his last two appearances – the running the most of all 22 players in both individual matches – the red light should have just flashed up on his load management tracker.
Despite his mixed performances, Liverpool can’t afford to lose Wirtz along with Dominik Szoboszlai. Having both out of action would make it difficult for Iraola to maintain the same system, with a real lack of an alternative No. 10.
So, while the temptation may be to keep him in the team and allow this better form to blossom and continue, the better decision would be to take Wirtz out for Tuesday’s game. An appearance off the bench could help keep momentum going, but a start should be out of the question.
Liverpool face Brighton on Sunday, and though there is a decent five-day rest period in between, the Reds need all of their best runners available and able to step up in Szoboszlai’s absence against a team who play some of the slickest football in the league. The risk of Wirtz getting injured on Tuesday simply outweighs the benefits of having him in for a match in which they should be able to win without him.
READ MORE: Alex Scott’s move to Liverpool now in doubt as Reds activate plans for another young midfielder
Who could replace Wirtz against Villarreal?
The problem Iraola now has, having reduced his midfield options over the summer, is that he does not have many natural options to come in and play as a No. 10 for Liverpool.
Harvey Elliott would have been a very natural understudy for Wirtz, but the 23-year-old was shipped off to Valencia, while Szoboszlai is another candidate, but is obviously injured.
Iraola started James McConnell in a more advanced role against Tottenham in September, as well as in pre-season on occasion, and it could be that the 22-year-old steps in once again. McConnell is expected to get minutes to cover for Szoboszlai, and that could start with Villarreal.
Alternatively, Iraola could drop him back into the midfield two along with Trey Nyoni or Ryan Gravenberch and stick Alexis Mac Allister further forward. A three of Nyoni, Gravenberch and Mac Allister could also work.
The Liverpool boss might decide to tweak things slightly as well and play two strikers, with one playing off the other. But with Alexander Isak also likely to be rested, Iraola does not really have the right tools to do this either.
The lack of answers perhaps suggests why Wirtz has been asked to play so much in recent matches, but there comes a point where Iraola has to take him out. The 23-year-old will be very much needed against Brighton, and sitting out of Villarreal is the best of ensuring Liverpool can get the most out of him then.