The Liverpool team to face Ipswich has been confirmed — and Andoni Iraola has made one very interesting change.
The Reds travel to Portman Road tonight looking for their first Premier League win of the season after back-to-back 2-2 draws against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.
And there is plenty to talk about in this Liverpool XI.
Liverpool’s confirmed XI
Alisson
Ronald Araújo — Virgil van Dijk — Jérémy Jacquet — Milos Kerkez
Alexis Mac Allister — Dominik Szoboszlai
Victor Muñoz — Florian Wirtz — Cody Gakpo
Alexander Isak
Subs:
Mamardashvili, Endo, Tsimikas, Barcola, Frimpong, Gravenberch, Nyoni, Koumas, Ngumoha
Araújo starts at right-back
This is the biggest talking point for me.
Ronald Araújo starts at right-back.
Jeremie Frimpong drops to the bench after starting Liverpool’s first two Premier League matches.
Iraola has clearly decided that he wants something different from his right-back tonight.
And I understand it.
Liverpool have looked vulnerable defensively during the opening two games, particularly when possession has been lost.
Araújo gives Liverpool a much more defensive-minded option.
He can defend.
He can compete physically.
And he can provide cover for the centre-backs.
Tonight could tell us a lot about whether Iraola sees Araújo as a genuine alternative at right-back while Conor Bradley remains unavailable.
Van Dijk and Jacquet continue
There is no change at centre-back.
Virgil van Dijk and Jérémy Jacquet keep their places.
Jacquet has had a difficult introduction to English football, but giving him another start makes sense.
He needs minutes.
He needs consistency.
And he needs to build an understanding with Van Dijk.
Hopefully we see a more assured performance from the youngster tonight.
Kerkez gets another chance
Milos Kerkez keeps his place at left-back.
There have been questions about his decision-making during the opening games, but this is exactly why players need time to settle into a new team.
Iraola clearly still trusts him.
Now Kerkez needs to repay that faith.
Mac Allister and Szoboszlai in midfield
I really like this midfield.
Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai should provide Liverpool with a good mixture of technical quality, energy and control.
But the balance has to be right.
Liverpool cannot afford to become too open again.
Ipswich will be looking for opportunities on the counter, and Liverpool’s midfield has to protect the defence when possession is lost.
If Mac Allister and Szoboszlai can control the game, Liverpool should have enough quality to dominate.
Wirtz has a huge role to play
Florian Wirtz starts again.
And tonight could be a big game for him.
Liverpool need Wirtz to find those spaces between the lines and connect midfield with attack.
Most importantly, he needs to get closer to Alexander Isak.
The £125m striker cannot be left isolated.
If Wirtz can get on the ball around the edge of the Ipswich box, Liverpool should create chances.
Gakpo keeps his place
Cody Gakpo starts again.
And after his performances in the opening games, I think that’s completely deserved.
Gakpo has looked one of Liverpool’s most dangerous attacking players so far.
With Barcola now available, there was always going to be pressure on the Dutchman.
But Gakpo gets the nod tonight.
And I certainly wouldn’t complain about that.
Muñoz starts again
Victor Muñoz also keeps his place.
He has already shown that he can make things happen, and Liverpool need that unpredictability from their wide players.
Muñoz’s pace and movement could be particularly useful against Ipswich.
If he can stretch their defence, it should create more space for Wirtz and Isak.
Isak leads the line
And then there’s Alexander Isak.
This is the player I really want to see get going tonight.
He scored against Nottingham Forest, but his overall involvement was limited.
Liverpool need to get him into the game.
They need to create chances for him.
And they need to give him better service.
Because when Isak gets the right service, we know what he can do.
Barcola is on the bench
And here is the decision everybody has been waiting for.
Bradley Barcola is on the bench.
The £123m signing from Paris Saint-Germain won’t make his Liverpool debut from the start.
But that doesn’t mean we won’t see him.
In fact, I think this could be the perfect situation.
Imagine Liverpool are leading 1-0 or 2-0 with 25 minutes remaining.
Ipswich are tiring.
Then Iraola looks towards the bench.
Barcola comes on.
That could be some introduction.
The French winger hasn’t had a full pre-season with Liverpool, so starting him would have been a big gamble.
Bringing him on later could allow Iraola to manage his minutes while still giving supporters their first glimpse of their huge new signing.
Look at that bench
Liverpool have some serious options available.
Barcola.
Frimpong.
Gravenberch.
Trey Nyoni.
Lewis Koumas.
Rio Ngumoha.
That’s a bench capable of changing a match.
And if Liverpool need more attacking threat in the second half, Iraola has options.
This Liverpool team should be good enough
Let’s be honest.
Liverpool should expect to win this game.
That doesn’t mean Ipswich can be taken lightly.
They have already beaten Sunderland this season and showed plenty of attacking threat despite losing 5-2 to Manchester United.
But Liverpool have considerably more quality.
And after two draws, the pressure is building for Iraola to get that first victory.
No more excuses
Two games.
Two draws.
Four goals conceded.
Four goals scored.
Liverpool have shown plenty of attacking quality but haven’t found the consistency needed to turn performances into victories.
Tonight is another opportunity.
And this XI gives Iraola a chance to address some of the defensive problems we’ve seen.
Araújo at right-back.
Mac Allister and Szoboszlai in midfield.
Wirtz behind Isak.
Gakpo and Muñoz providing the width.
And Barcola waiting in the wings.
Now go and win it
I like this team.
I like the decision to start Araújo.
I understand why Barcola is on the bench.
And I think Liverpool have enough quality to finally get their first three points of the season.
But they need to start quickly.
They need to defend properly.
They need to get Isak involved.
And they need to show the ruthlessness that has been missing during those opening two draws.
The team is confirmed.
Now let’s get that first win.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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