Liverpool face Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, October 11, with head coach Andoni Iraola waiting on fitness updates for Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo. The Reds are aiming for a fourth successive Premier League clean sheet against the league leaders, who will play their first fixture since being found guilty on 114 charges relating to Premier League financial rules.
Defensive stability and midfield options
Ronald Araujo is expected to start at right-back, having been exemplary in the position in recent weeks. The Uruguay defender will likely be tasked with stopping City's array of speedy wingers. Iliman Ndiaye started on the left in the last home win against Sunderland, but Antoine Semenyo and Jeremy Doku are also options, although Semenyo is an injury doubt.
New France international Jeremy Jacquet, who joined from Rennes for £60m in the summer, is set to partner Virgil van Dijk. The 21-year-old has impressed since his move and will face the prospect of going toe-to-toe with Erling Haaland.
In midfield, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch are vying for two positions, but Isak's fitness could allow all three to play in the engine room.
Isak and Gakpo injury concerns
Isak returned to Merseyside last week after a thigh injury described as minor by Sweden boss Graham Potter. The £125m striker has scored four times this season, and his potential absence would be a huge blow for Iraola.
"He's got a small problem with his thigh," Potter explained. "It's not a big one but because of the amount of games we've got in a small space of time, he won't be able to make those."
If Isak is sidelined, Florian Wirtz could start in a 'false 9' role, allowing Szoboszlai, Gravenberch and Mac Allister to form a more compact midfield. If Isak is fit, Szoboszlai is likely to join Mac Allister, with Gravenberch waiting in the wings.
Gakpo hurt his ankle in the Nations League meeting with Serbia, after a challenge from Ipswich Town midfielder Sasa Lukic. A scan ruled him out of the 2-2 draw with Greece, and the in-form attacker's absence against City would be a major setback.
Wide options and waiting game
Bradley Barcola, who played the final 15 minutes of France's draw with Italy, is vying for a start. The £123m winger is still building fitness after limited pre-season minutes during Paris Saint-Germain's transfer negotiations. Rio Ngumoha, an unused substitute for England's 7-0 win over Croatia, is also an option on the left, while Victor Munoz, who featured for Spain in their 3-1 win over Czechia, factors into the thinking.
With one final round of international fixtures still to come, Iraola and other club managers will be keeping their fingers crossed this week.
