Liverpool's pre-season schedule ends today (Sunday) with two games against Italian side Como. The first of the double-header will be played behind closed doors with an 11.30am kick-off slated before the 6pm, ticketed event at Anfield.
How Andoni Iraola juggles his resources will be interesting but it could be a busy day for a few in his Reds' squad ahead of that Premier League curtain raiser at Newcastle United on August 23. Our writers are picking their Liverpool teams for the 6pm kick-off and here's what they think Iraola should be looking to do when Cesc Fabregas and his team arrive on Merseyside.
Paul Gorst's team
Another week in the transfer market and Liverpool are no further along in their attempts to secure a replacement for Mohamed Salah. So, just who starts on the right side of that attack? Liverpool's inability to properly secure the winger they have been seeking for the best part of the last six months means they will likely start against Newcastle United with a makeshift right side.
That reflects poorly on the recruitment team but this isn't a game for Lewis Koumas. Instead, Rio Ngumoha gets the nod from me on that side, even if he looks like he prefers the opposite flank. It's a first Liverpool start for Victor Munoz on the left too with Cody Gakpo waiting in the wings, quite literally, on the bench.
Alexander Isak starts up front with Florian Wirtz just behind him in the No.10 role that Andoni Iraola has sketched out for him. In defence, there's a start for Ronald Araujo alongside Virgil van Dijk. The on-loan Barcelona centre-back will likely begin against Newcastle and Jeremy Jacquet, now back in team training, can have his first taste of pre-season in the earlier game.
Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Alisson Becker complete the back five and in midfield, it's a two-man pivot of Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai. Alexis Mac Allister can play the final half hour.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Araujo, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Munoz; Isak.
Ian Doyle's team
The final friendly is now upon us. And while Liverpool are playing Como twice on Sunday, it's the second main game at Anfield in the evening that will surely see the senior players involved. There will be just a week until the start of the Premier League season. What, then, is Reds boss Andoni Iraola to do?
It will probably have to be what he regards as first choice for now, given Alexis Mac Allister and Victor Munoz won't start at Newcastle United. That means Alisson Becker in goal, Milos Kerkez at left-back, and loan signing Ronald Araujo alongside skipper Virgil van Dijk at centre-back. Jeremie Frimpong is by default the right-back.
In midfield, Dominik Szoboszlai partners Ryan Gravenberch at the base with Florian Wirtz the number 10. And up top, Alexander Isak leads the line with Cody Gakpo on the left and Rio Ngumoha on the right.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Araujo, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.
