Liverpool’s predicted XI vs Atletico Madrid as Andoni Iraola makes another change at right-back
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Andoni Iraola has the luxury of being able to re-name a winning team for the first time in his Liverpool managerial career after the Reds beat Ipswich 2-0 on Friday.The win was an extremely welcome one for Iraola, and kicks off a run of three games in a week, with Liverpool playing in three different competitions, all at Anfield.Atletico Madrid are first up, with Diego Simeone’s side serving up a dose of deja vu by travelling to Merseyside for the first Champions League match of the season, something they also did one year ago. What are your best and worst memories of Liverpool playing against Atletico Madrid?
The Reds will meet Diego Simeone and co once again on Wednesday Photo Credit: Getty Images/James Gill/Danehouse Defence – Jeremie Frimpong comes back inWith this being the first time Iraola has had to face a mid-week match as Liverpool head coach, it will be interesting to see whether he decides to ring the changes or not.Either way, it seems inconceivable that Alisson Becker will not play, while Virgil van Dijk is also certain to line up in defence.The other three spots are potentially up for grabs, however, and following some slightly underpar performances recently, we think Kostas Tsimikas could come in for Milos Kerkez at left-back.Having completed 90 minutes on Friday, Jeremy Jacquet now looks up to speed, but this could be a chance to give him an early rest and keep Ronald Araujo in the team following a top performance against Ipswich. Araujo’s display came at right-back, but a shift back into the middle should see Jeremie Frimpong reinstated to add some attacking thrust against the notoriously defensive Atletico.READ MORE: How Liverpool’s £400m attack compares against Real Madrid, PSG and Bayern Munich as Champions League kicks offMidfield – Ryan Gravenberch takes back his placeIraola always has three good choices to fill two spots in midfield, with one of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai or Ryan Gravenberch going to have to sit out in most matches.Having been dropped to the bench for the past two matches, we think Gravenberch will come back in here, with Mac Allister making way as he continues to come back to 100 per cent following the World Cup.Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty ImagesSzoboszlai is indispensable to this team and will surely start against such strong opposition, while Florian Wirtz should play as well.Iraola has the chance to play Liverpool’s new front four for the first time, and though Wirtz has been slightly disappointing so far this season, the chance to see him build an understanding with what should now be a fairly settled front three is exciting.Attack – Bradley Barcola makes his full debutThe biggest question for fans ahead of this one – along with exactly what happens at right-back – is likely to be whether or not Bradley Barcola is picked to start.Barcola got his first taste of action in a Liverpool shirt on Friday, and looked good for it, and Wednesday’s game feels like a good time to get him involved from the start.
The Frenchman knows the competition having won it back-to-back with Paris Saint-Germain, and it should provide him with a good introduction to Anfield.Meanwhile, Iraola hinted at Alexander Isak‘s involvement by taking him off early on Friday, and Cody Gakpo simply has to start after being arguably Liverpool’s best player so far this season.Barcola, Isak and Gakpo with Wirtz in behind looks like Iraola’s strongest attack until January at least, and this will be the first opportunity to see it in action. Liverpool’s Predicted XI vs Atletico MadridJoin Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox