Andoni Iraola has two big calls to make as Liverpool head into their first Premier League home match of the season, against Nottingham Forest.
In isolation, a point away at Newcastle on the opening day of the season wasn’t a bad result.
Delve a little deeper, though, and many of Liverpool’s problems under Arne Slot were still very present at St James’ Park – not totally unexpectedly, of course.
As Iraola goes about trying to find solutions, it will be interesting to see the team he picks at Anfield.
Here’s how Liverpool could line up.
Liverpool team news vs. Forest
Federico Chiesa is unavailable due to a “small muscle injury” in his back, said Iraola
Joe Gomez hasn’t returned to training and remains absent from the squad
Long-term absentees Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni are still recovering
Liverpool’s XI vs. Forest
CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola speaks with Ryan Gravenberch during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. Leeds won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola speaks with Ryan Gravenberch during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. Leeds won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The big talking point from the opening weekend was how exposed Liverpool’s attacking midfield left the defence.
Both Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai were eager to get forward to support Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, leaving a gaping hole for Newcastle to exploit.
Despite the problem, Iraola could stick with the same side as Liverpool attempt to keep the back door shut.
“I think we don’t do a proper lockdown. We’ve been definitely working on it,” the boss said.
“It’s something that we always want to control, but there is a balance.
“We cannot go from one way where we send a lot of people forward to after we keep everyone [back] so we don’t arrive with numbers, everything looks very stale.”
Here are the likely selection options:
Iraola sticks with a midfield of Szoboszlai and Gravenberch with Wirtz ahead of them
Rio Ngumoha retains his place on the right wing because Liverpool are yet to sign a ‘replacement’ for Mo Salah
Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong should keep their places in the team but are under pressure to improve on last week’s showin
This is how Liverpool would line up:
Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak
Thanks to Liverpool not playing for five days after the final whistle, Iraola doesn’t need to rotate, but he may choose to give Alexis Mac Allister his first start of the season.
He returned later than everyone else, due to reaching the World Cup final, so the Argentine needs minutes to get sharp.
When the midfielder came on against Newcastle, he looked better suited to the role of pass master than Gravenberch or Szoboszlai.
Cody Gakpo‘s future is uncertain too. He would be allowed to leave should Liverpool sign another winger after Bradley Barcola.
If transfer business develops quickly, he could be withdrawn from the side to complete a move. As it stands, though, the Dutchman will be starting on the left wing.
If Gakpo is on his way out, Rio Ngumoha could shift to left-wing as Victor Munoz starts on the right
Mac Allister starts instead of Gravenberch as Szoboszlai keeps his place
Jeremy Jacquet starts with Ronald Araujo to come off the bench in the second half again
Here’s how this alternate team would look:
Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Munoz, Wirtz, Ngumoha; Isak
If this game against Forest were away from home, there would be an option of playing Szoboszlai on the right with Mac Allister and Gravenberch in the middle.
However, Iraola will be keen to enjoy a positive start at Anfield and give the supporters a taste of the attacking football they can expect.
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lfc forest preview FI
lfc forest preview FI
Football – Pre-Season Friendly – Liverpool FC v AS Monaco
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)