How Iraola Could Solve Liverpool’s Striker Shortage Against City
Liverpool go into Sunday’s meeting with Manchester City without their two senior centre forward options, and that changes the shape of the team news heading into one of the biggest fixtures of the entire season so far. Andoni Iraola has confirmed that Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo are both unavailable for selection, which leaves Liverpool without three recognised strikers once Hugo Ekitike is factored into the equation as well, a situation few would have predicted this early in the campaign.
The head coach was straightforward about the issues in his pre-match press conference on Friday. Gakpo is managing an ankle problem picked up from a heavy challenge in a recent match, while Isak has a muscle issue in his thigh that the club is currently treating as low grade rather than long term or serious. Both are expected to be managed on a day to day basis rather than ruled out for an extended period, but neither will be risked against a City side that rarely allows opponents time to settle into a rhythm.
Barcola Looks The Obvious Answer
With two senior options missing from the squad entirely, Bradley Barcola looks the most logical fix through the middle of the pitch. He is more naturally suited to working from the left flank, where he has spent most of his career to date, but this is a question of usefulness to the team rather than personal comfort. Iraola has made clear in recent comments that he sees Barcola as a genuinely adaptable attacker capable of filling any of the three forward positions across the front line, and Liverpool paid £123m for him last summer precisely because of that tactical flexibility. This weekend could be the moment that significant investment pays off in a way nobody quite expected back in August.
Wirtz As The Alternative Plan
The other option on the table is using Florian Wirtz as a false nine through the centre, which would be a tidier tactical fit overall if Iraola wants Dominik Szoboszlai restored to his preferred number ten role behind him. Liverpool have used fluid attacking patterns in matches like this before under different managers, and it can work well when the spacing between the front players is right, though the lack of an orthodox focal point does leave City more room to squeeze the pitch if Liverpool hesitate in possession at any stage.
A Rare Piece Of Defensive Good News
There is at least some relief for Iraola at the back of his team. Jeremy Jacquet is available again having shaken off a hamstring concern that kept him out recently, meaning Iraola can keep faith with a defensive unit that has already kept three consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League this season. Federico Chiesa is edging closer to full match fitness but this particular game comes too soon for him to be involved, just as it does for Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni, both of whom remain a little further away from first team contention.
Our predicted Liverpool XI for Sunday reads: Alisson, Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Ngumoha, Szoboszlai, Barcola, Wirtz. Kick off is scheduled for 4.30pm on Sunday at Anfield, with Manchester City’s ongoing financial case casting almost as much of a shadow over the build up to this occasion as the team news itself has done this week.