Liverpool's best XI as things stand with Rio Ngumoha vs Cody Gakpo question answered

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All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageGoalkeeper: Alisson BeckerHe may have been impacted by injury in recent seasons, but when fit the Brazilian remains one of the best goalkeepers in the world and is a clear number one ahead of Giorgi Mamardashvili and Freddie Woodman.As things stand, it will be his last season at Liverpool given his contract expires next summer - but the Reds would perhaps be wise to agree an extension if Alisson retains his form.Right-back: Conor BradleyBradley has been a significant miss since suffering a serious knee injury at Arsenal in early January.The Northern Ireland international is still some way from making a return to action and Liverpool will be careful not to rush his comeback. As with Alisson, the Dutchman is out of contract next summer and will want to finish his Anfield career strongly if it is to be his last term.The place alongside him, though, is very much up for grabs.

Liverpool wouldn't have agreed to pay up to £60m for Jacquet without considering him as a regular starter, though, despite the Frenchman being only 21..Left-back: Milos KerkezThe departure of Andy Robertson has cemented Kerkez as the first-choice left-back, with the Hungarian of course emboldened by having played under Iraola for two years at Bournemouth before moving to Liverpool last summer.Kostas Tsimikas has returned from a loan spell at Roma to provide competition.Defensive midfielders: Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac AllisterIraola played with two deeper midfielders throughout his time at Bournemouth and has shown no sign of deviating from that throughout pre-season. By handing Gravenberch a new long-term deal earlier in the year Liverpool reiterated their faith in the Dutchman, and while Dominik Szoboszlai is seen as a number eight the lack of options mean he would perhaps be required elsewhere in the starting line-up.Mac Allister can therefore continue his partnership of recent seasons with Gravenberch, albeit with different tactical instructions from new head coach Iraola.Right wing: Dominik SzoboszlaiWith no new right-winger having been purchased as of yet to replace Mohamed Salah, Liverpool are not blessed with many options on the flank.

Szoboszlai would be a cert to start in any Reds line-up, but at the moment may best serve the team by doing a job on the wing.It would be the latest example of Szoboszlai echoing the Anfield career path of one of his inspirations, Steven Gerrard.Attacking midfielder: Florian WirtzWirtz featured in a number of positions for Liverpool last season and played off the left for Germany during the World Cup.But he was sold a vision by previous Reds boss Arne Slot as a number 10 and Iraola has made clear that would be his favoured use of the 23-year-old, who having cost £116m is going to be playing.Left wing: Cody GakpoRio Ngumoha became a firm fan favourite during the dark days of last season, not least with his pace and willingness to take on defenders down the left flank. But the England international only turns 18 in late August and has made just five career Premier League starts, and while more regular minutes will be available he remains very much a work in progress.Gakpo didn't have the best of seasons last term but issued a reminder during the World Cup of why he was such a key player in the Premier League title triumph of 2024/25.Striker: Alexander IsakLiverpool splashed out a club record £125million on Isak last September, and while teething troubles were expected, nobody could have anticipated the difficult campaign that followed for Isak.Now refreshed, free of injury and with an encouraging World Cup under his belt, the Swede is no doubt ready to belatedly reveal his true self to Liverpool.