I think Ryan Gravenberch pretty much has to start against LASK on Wednesday.
After what happened against Manchester City, Liverpool need a response in Austria, and Gravenberch is one of the midfielders I still want to see in this team.
There is just one problem.
Who on earth should play alongside him?
Alexis Mac Allister? Trey Nyoni? James McConnell?
There are options, but none of them feels like an absolutely obvious choice.
And that is what makes this selection decision so interesting for Andoni Iraola.
Gravenberch needs to play
First of all, I don’t think there is much point in leaving Gravenberch out.
He was one of Liverpool’s better players against Manchester City before his controversial second yellow card brought his afternoon to an early end.
I don’t want to turn this into another argument about the referee, but the sending-off changed the game. Liverpool were still in the contest before going down to ten men, and City took full advantage afterwards.
Now Liverpool need to put that disappointment behind them.
There is another reason to play him, too.
Gravenberch is suspended for the Premier League trip to Brentford at the weekend, so Wednesday gives Iraola an opportunity to use him before he misses the next league game.
For me, that makes the decision fairly straightforward.
Gravenberch should start.
The harder question is who plays next to him.
Mac Allister is the safe option
If Iraola wants experience, he could simply bring Mac Allister alongside Gravenberch.
We know what the Argentine offers. He’s comfortable on the ball, intelligent in possession and capable of helping Liverpool control the tempo.
On paper, that looks like the most straightforward pairing.
But I do wonder whether Mac Allister could benefit from a rest.
Liverpool have a busy run of fixtures, and the manager needs to think beyond just Wednesday night. He also has to consider Saturday’s game against Brentford and how he keeps the midfield functioning with Szoboszlai carrying a hamstring concern.
Mac Allister is an important player, and I don’t want to see him run into the ground simply because Liverpool are short of options.
If Iraola believes he needs his experience to get the job done in Austria, I wouldn’t complain about seeing him start.
But I would understand if the manager decided to give him a breather.
Why not give Trey Nyoni another chance?
This is where things get interesting.
Nyoni has already shown that he is capable of handling senior football, and I would like to see him get more opportunities.
He’s young, but I don’t think that should automatically count against him.
Sometimes you have to trust these players and find out what they can do when the stakes are a little higher.
A Champions League away game is a big occasion, of course. It isn’t a match where Liverpool can afford to treat the opposition lightly.
But Nyoni wouldn’t be going into it without support. Gravenberch would be alongside him, and Liverpool would still have experienced players around the pitch.
I like the idea of giving Nyoni minutes, particularly when Gravenberch’s suspension means the Dutchman won’t be available at the weekend.
The question is whether Iraola wants to start him or introduce him later if the match is going Liverpool’s way.
Personally, I wouldn’t be against Nyoni starting.
He could bring energy and enthusiasm to a midfield that needs to show more authority after the City defeat.
And then there’s James McConnell
McConnell is another option, although I suspect this might be a bigger decision for Iraola.
He’s shown that he can operate in different midfield roles, including further forward, and his versatility could be useful in a rotated side.
Liverpool have several young players travelling to Austria, and the manager has to decide which ones are ready for meaningful minutes rather than simply being included in the squad.
I don’t think McConnell should be dismissed from the conversation.
But if we’re talking specifically about a midfield partnership that can help Liverpool control the game, I’d probably put Nyoni ahead of him for this particular starting role.
That doesn’t mean McConnell has nothing to offer. It simply comes down to what Iraola wants from the position.
Does he want somebody to help Gravenberch build play from deep? Does he want energy and pressing? Or does he want a more advanced midfielder who can connect the midfield to the attack?
Those are different jobs, and the answer could determine who starts.
Endo? Unfortunately, not this time
I know some Liverpool supporters would like to see Wataru Endo given a chance.
And I understand why.
He’s experienced, committed and capable of providing a more defensive presence in midfield.
But Endo is ineligible for this Champions League fixture, so he isn’t a realistic option against LASK.
That leaves Iraola choosing between experience in Mac Allister and the younger options in Nyoni and McConnell.
There isn’t an endless list of alternatives.
And with Szoboszlai a doubt, that makes the decision even more important.
What would I do?
If it were my decision, I’d start Gravenberch alongside Nyoni.
Mac Allister would be a perfectly sensible choice, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Iraola went that way. But I would like to see Nyoni given the opportunity to show what he can do.
Liverpool need a reaction after Manchester City, but they also need to manage the squad sensibly during a demanding run of games.
This is a chance to do both.
Gravenberch gets valuable minutes before his suspension, Nyoni gets an opportunity to develop, and Mac Allister has the chance to recover before the weekend.
Of course, it comes with a risk. A young midfielder starting away in Europe is not guaranteed to work out.
But if Nyoni is going to become a genuine first-team option, these are the opportunities he needs to take.
And if Iraola decides the game is getting away from Liverpool, he can always turn to Mac Allister for experience.
The important thing is getting the balance right.
Liverpool cannot afford another flat performance, and they need to make sure the midfield gives the attackers a platform to play.
Gravenberch should be part of that.
Now Iraola has to decide who joins him.
For me, Nyoni deserves serious consideration.
But I’ll be honest: it’s a difficult call, and I can see the argument for all three options.
Let’s just hope Liverpool’s midfield gives us something to be positive about on Wednesday night.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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