Liverpool are next up against Manchester United in the Premier League with Andoni Iraola facing some selection posers
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola(Image: Steve Bardens - AMA/Getty Images)
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That was more like it. Liverpool ended a run of two successive defeats when they earned an ultimately comfortable Premier League victory at Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.
Andoni Iraola and his players will now look to build on that triumph when they resume after the international break with the visit of bitter North West rivals Manchester United on Sunday week.
Liverpool have a poor recent record against Michael Carrick's relegation-threatened side having won only one of the last seven meetings and none of the last three.
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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Iraola will be forgiven for keeping his fingers, toes, legs and just about everything else crossed over the next fortnight with so many of his players away on international duty.
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The last such break saw Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai return injured, which contributed to the Reds losing 3-0 at home to United's neighbours City.
The Liverpool boss, though, will hope his options in defence have improved, with right-back Jeremie Frimpong expected to be back available after missing the last six games. Ronald Araujo has been featuring in the position primarily, with Joe Gomez another option. Conor Bradley has been out since January with a serious knee injury.
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Another long-term absentee, centre-back Giovanni Leoni, has been slated for a return to training during the international break, although it will be a further period before he is ready to be considered for action.
Jeremy Jacquet and skipper Virgil van Dijk have emerged as the main duo at the heart of defence, with Araujo and Gomez other alternatives.
Alisson Becker demonstrated at Palace why he is the undisputed number one in goal ahead of Giorgi Mamardashvili and Freddie Woodman, although Milos Kerkez and Kostas Tsimikas continue to scrap for the left-back role with neither consistently convincing as of yet this season.
Nyoni claim
The Liverpool midfield has become one of intrigue for supporters, most notably regards the two deeper positions.
Alexis Mac Allister has cemented himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet, but alongside him there has been heavy rotation, sparked partly due to injuries.
Ryan Gravenberch has missed the last two matches with a heel problem while Szoboszlai was forced off in the second half at Palace after extending his knee.
Teenager Trey Nyoni made his first Premier League start in the defeat to Arsenal earlier this month and has impressed in both the League Cup and Champions League, and is pushing both Gravenberch and Szoboszlai.
Liverpool's English midfielder #42 Trey Nyoni (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team first goal during the UEFA Champions League, league phase, Matchday 4, football match between Fenerbahce and Liverpool at Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu Spor Kompleksi Stadium in Istanbul on November 4, 2026. (Photo by YASIN AKGUL / AFP via Getty Images)
Trey Nyoni (C) celebrates with his Liverpool team-mates after his first goal for the club opened the scoring in the Champions League encounter in Istanbul against Turkey
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Florian Wirtz is the established number 10, although the need to rest the Germany international has seen Gravenberch, Szoboszlai and James McConnell fill the position on occasion. Defensive midfield option Wataru Endo, though, is still to play a single minute this season.
More forward changes?
Iraola has made a point of chopping and changing his forward line in recent weeks, and with a run of nine games in 28 days approaching ahead of Christmas it's an approach that is unlikely to change.
Isak is the established number nine and now has eight goals for the season, with Gakpo, Lewis Koumas and Bradley Barcola having also started there this campaign.
Gakpo, Barcola and Ngumoha have also featured regularly on either flank, with Victor Munoz another option on the right. Koumas has also had a start on the flank.
Federico Chiesa failed to make the bench at Palace, with Hugo Ekitike still out with an Achilles problem suffered in April. Jayden Danns has been among the substitutes in the Champions League.
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)