Liverpool has confirmed its starting XI to take on Nottingham Forest, with Andoni Iraola making decisions on Victor Munoz and Dominik Szoboszlai in his first competitve home game
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.(Image: Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola has named his first competitive starting XI at Anfield, with the Reds boss looking to win his first game after the 1-1 draw with Newcastle last weekend.
Alisson Becker is in goal, with Jeremie Frimpong, Jeremy Jacquet, Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez across the back four. Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister are in the center.
In attack, Victor Munoz, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak complete the team. Rio Ngumoha is among the options to call upon from the bench, with more quality in forward areas expected to be on the way in the form of Bradley Barcola.
"One of our goals is to get this connection with the fans," Iraola told Steven Gerrard in an interview for TNT Sports this week.
"I always tell the players, ‘The fans have to feel that if they were in your position, they would do exactly the same as you are doing.’
"The fans probably cannot put a free-kick into the top corner. But they are thinking, ‘If I was there, I will give everything — I will follow every ball, I will attack the spaces, I will press, I will head the ball, I will win the second [balls].’
"We have to do all those basics well. When the fans feel this and they are trying and they are giving everything, it keeps the team closer to the fans.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"When you create this connection, we are going to be much, much better. We have to do our part – because I’m sure if we do our part, the other side will be there."
Writing in the official matchday program, Van Dijk adds: "It's great to be back at Anfield ready to attack another Premier League season, and I hope you guys are looking forward to Saturday's game as much as we are.
"Playing at this amazing stadium is a privilege we should never take for granted, and even as I begin what is my 10th season as a Liverpool player, I still get that same feeling. I can't wait to get out there.
"Last weekend's game up at Newcastle was a tough one. I think you saw a lot of good things from us, in terms of our performance levels, but also a lot of areas we need to improve in.
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"That's normal. When you have a new coach with new plans and new ideas, it is always going to take a bit of time to put those into practice. But it is down to us to do that as quickly as we can.
"I can tell you that we are working extremely hard every day on the training ground, because we all want to improve, we want to be better and more consistent. We want to win, ultimately. At Liverpool, that should always be the aim.
"You don't need me to tell you that last season was tough, unacceptable in my opinion. We are better than that, much better in fact, and now we need to show it."
Liverpool starting XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Munoz, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.