Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola is sweating on the fitness of Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak and Dominik Szoboszlai ahead of Saturday's trip to Brentford, with the club enduring a gruelling run of nine games in 28 days.
This will be the third of those nine matches for the Reds, who flew straight home to Merseyside after Wednesday night's 6-3 hammering of LASK in Linz, Austria. The squad arrived at their Kirkby training base around 12.30am before Iraola faced the media less than 12 hours later to preview the game.
Lack of sleep
"I think obviously it's more difficult when we have played yesterday night, we arrive here [at the training ground] quite late at night and we haven't slept the hours we normally sleep," Iraola said on Thursday. "But this is the challenge of playing, no? It's competitions like the Champions League and it's not going to just happen this week, it is going to be a constant thing this season so we have to adapt."
Iraola refused to rule out the injured trio, but one of the reasons he prefers two days between press conference and game is so he doesn't have to give too much away about his team selection. It would be a big surprise if all three returned for this one at the Gtech Stadium. Training pictures, due to be released on Friday, will provide a better update on their availability.
Team selection
Szoboszlai travelled to Linz and is only said to be hampered by a minor hamstring problem, so he could potentially return, but Iraola talked up the talents of Trey Nyoni on Thursday. Expect the young midfielder to partner Alexis Mac Allister in the engine room. Ryan Gravenberch is suspended.
Ronald Araujo should shift back to the right side as Virgil van Dijk returns. Captain Kostas Tsimikas did well in Austria, but Milos Kerkez will be expected to play in west London. Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola will surely start, and it will be interesting to see what Iraola does with Rio Ngumoha. The teenage winger excelled against LASK and is vying for a start, but the Reds boss also has Victor Munoz waiting in the wings.
Lewis Koumas, fresh from his first Champions League goal, is expected to lead the line in the absence of Isak and Hugo Ekitike. Iraola has options for his starting XI, but the injury list means the strength in depth is being tested ahead of a tough trip to Brentford. Having apparently missed out on adequate rest due to the schedule, Iraola will get the chance to at least sleep on it now.
