Liverpool can finally lay the catastrophe that was 2025/26 to rest this weekend, as they begin a new season, and a new era, on Saturday.
Rewind one year, and nobody had expected that Arne Slot would lose his position as Liverpool head coach, but things slid so far under the Dutchman that a change simply had to happen.
Andoni Iraola is the new man in charge, and after several impressive public appearances as Slot’s successor, the Basque finally gets to pick a Liverpool team. He will do so in Nashville, Tennessee, as the Reds take on Sunderland at Geodis Park. Here’s the XI we expect Iraola to choose, as youngsters and fringe players feel the benefit of some big names being missing.
Which Liverpool youngster will make the biggest impact under Andoni Iraola and become a first-team member?
Four really talented young players…
Defence
Liverpool’s defence will look completely different next season after Ibrahima Konate departed on a free transfer, while there may well be a new right-back coming soon as well.
In terms of the man behind the back four, that is expected to stay the same, with Alisson Becker likely to stick around despite strong interest from Juventus. The Brazilian will not join the squad in the US, though, meaning Giorgi Mamardashvili is likely to play this one.
Conor Bradley is still months away from a return according to Iraola, meaning, if he decides to go with the strongest team available to him, Jeremie Frimpong can expect to start against Sunderland.
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Centre-back is interesting, given Konate and Virgil van Dijk, starters for the past two years, are not around, meaning fans will surely get a first look at Jeremy Jacquet. Who partners Jacquet is one of the biggest questions for this XI, and though Iraola could go with youth and pick Ifeanyi Nduke or Mor Talla Ndiaye, Joe Gomez is the best pick for him to start off on the right foot.
At left-back, there will surely be a first chance to see Milos Kerkez back under a manager who got the best out of him at Bournemouth, although there is a possibility Kostas Tsimikas gets the nod instead.
Midfield
The midfield is where the biggest change in Iraola’s approach could arrive, with the Spaniard playing a clearly defined two and one system with Bournemouth. Two sitters covered ground in front of the defence and in the middle of the pitch, with a more creative, attacking player situation further up behind the attack. This would not be a huge change in system, but it would still be a key tweak.
For Liverpool, Florian Wirtz could be the biggest beneficiary of this, but with the German still away, it feels like a good opportunity for Harvey Elliott to stake his claim.
Iraola has been impressed by Elliott so far, and a defined role as a like-for-like back-up to Wirtz could be exactly what the 23-year-old needs this season.
Behind him, Dominik Szoboszlai will, of course, be key, and the Hungarian will arguably be the biggest draw for Liverpool fans watching in Nashville. He’ll surely start on the back of his new contract last week.
Who plays alongside Szoboszlai will be fascinating, with neither Alexis Mac Allister nor Ryan Gravenberch available. Curtis Jones is the safest bet ahead of the likes of Trey Nyoni and James McConnell, though, and if Iraola wants to go strong against Sunderland, the Scouser really has to start.
Every appearance could now be Jones’ last for Liverpool, but if he can start off in the right way under Iraola, maybe there is still a way back. Saturday should be the first chance to set the tone.
Attack
Perhaps the biggest area of scrutiny in the Liverpool squad heading into the summer, the Reds attack is clearly not up to scratch ahead of the new season.
On Saturday, that will be depleted further by the absences of Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo, Victor Munoz and Hugo Ekitike, who remains some way off a return.
As a result, Iraola will be forced to field a decidedly second-string forward line, which will no doubt be met with a level-headed response from fans on social media.
Rio Ngumoha is at least present, and the 17-year-old will carry much of Liverpool’s attacking hopes against the Black Cats, although there should be a chance for Federico Chiesa to make a good early impression under Iraola as well.
The Reds have limited availability through the middle, and although Will Wright could start, we think the more experienced Lewis Koumas will get the nod. The door could be open for Koumas with the Reds’ attack in a transitional period, and Saturday will be the ideal platform for the 20-year-old to make his case to Iraola.
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