Liverpool are next up against Fenerbahce in the Champions League with Andoni Iraola facing some selection posers
Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool
Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool(Image: Steven Halliwell/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Time to start again. Liverpool saw their growing momentum checked when they were beaten at home by champions Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.
After a run of five successive victories, Andoni Iraola and his players will look to construct a new winning run when they are in Istanbul to face Turkish side Fenerbahce in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.
Liverpool have a 100% record in the competition after three games and are looking to secure early automatic qualification to the knockout stages.
And here we look ahead to the changes the Reds head coach could make when his team are next in action.
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Araujo move?
Iraola made another seven changes against Arsenal and will be expected to continue heavily rotating for an eighth game in a spell of nine in 29 days.
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Despite the mistake that led to the Gunners' winner at the weekend, Alisson Becker remains the first-choice goalkeeper ahead of Giorgi Mamardashvili with Freddie Woodman next line.
But the remainder of the defence could be overhauled once again. Kostas Tsimikas has three assists in starting the last two Champions League games and is pressing Milos Kerkez at left-back, while Luke Chambers has been a Champions League bench regular this term and made his debut in the competition at LASK.
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Joe Gomez and the fit-again Dominik Szoboszlai are both options at right-back should Ronald Araujo be moved or rested. Jeremie Frimpong remains out until after the forthcoming international break while Conor Bradley has been sidelined since January.
Both Araujo and Gomez are also considerations at centre-back, with one of regular pairing Jeremy Jacquet and Virgil van Dijk having been benched in two of the last three midweek games. Giovanni Leoni is slated to return to training later this month after more than a year out with a serious knee injury.
Gravenberch decision
Trey Nyoni was rewarded for recent progress with a first Premier League start at the weekend. And having never before been in the XI in successive games, it seems unlikely the teenager will be asked to go again for a third time inside eight days.
The return of Szoboszlai has given Iraola an extra option, although it was intriguing that Ryan Gravenberch remained on the bench against Arsenal.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 2: Liverpool FC Head Coach Andoni Iraola concentrates after the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field on August 2, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Liverpool's new head coach Andoni Iraola, pictured on the club's tour of the US(Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Both will be pressing for a start in the deeper engine room positions should Alexis Mac Allister be rested, with James McConnell another alternative given Wataru Endo is ineligible.
And McConnell, Szobsoszlai and Gravenberch have all featured in the number 10 role if Florian Wirtz is benched for a second successive Champions League game. Academy midfielder Michael Laffey was among the substitutes last time out in the competition.
Ngumoha ready
Rotation has very much been the watchword in attack with Iraola possessing a number of options despite Hugo Ekitike remaining out and Federico Chiesa not being in the Champions League squad.
Cody Gakpo and Lewis Koumas could feature down the middle should Alexander Isak, who has started only one Champions League game this season, again be benched.
Gakpo has featured across the front line already this campaign, and is an option on both flanks along with Bradley Barcola, Rio Ngumoha and Victor Munoz. Ngumoha is a likely starter having been in the XI for each Champions League match this campaign although Munoz has been restricted to two substitute outings.
Jayden Danns has been on the bench for each game in the competition but hasn't played for the first team in more than a year.