Liverpool’s predicted XI vs Brentford as Andoni Iraola makes call on injured trio

Liverpool head to Brentford this Saturday on the back of a much-needed confidence boost away at LASK on Wednesday.

The Reds needed to pick themselves up after the demoralising defeat against Manchester City last Sunday, and the Austrian side provided the perfect opposition, allowing Andoni Iraola to rotate his side and still pick up a resounding 6-3 win.

Iraola has left the door open for injured trio Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai to return in West London, but with little turnaround time between the matches, we don’t think any will be passed fit to be in the starting XI. Here’s who we think Iraola will turn to instead.

Given the nature of Wednesday’s game and the intense fixture schedule Liverpool are about to embark upon, some may have expected Giorgi Mamardashvili to play in Austria. Alisson Becker started, though, just as he will here.

Jeremie Frimpong played well at right-back – for the most part anyway – and while that was a positive step for the much-maligned Dutchman, he will make way for Ronald Araujo, who will surely return to right-back after a midweek jaunt in the middle.

Jeremy Jacquet was given a rest for the final part of Wednesday’s match, with Iraola dismissing any injury concerns, and the Frenchman will again partner Virgil van Dijk, who may feel he has a point to prove after a dismal cameo in midweek.

Milos Kerkez sat out for the entirety against LASK, and he may also feel the need to reassert himself when coming back in, after a good performance from Kostas Tsimikas turned the pressure on him up just a little.

Assuming Szoboszlai does not make it in time, Liverpool’s midfield is easy to predict against Brentford. Ryan Gravenberch will also miss the game through suspension, meaning Iraola has very little wiggle room here.

Trey Nyoni showed up fantastically against LASK, and there should be no concerns about him finally making the first Premier League start of his career at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Having played only a few minutes in midweek, Alexis Mac Allister was given a much-needed rest, and the Argentine has a big job to do alongside Nyoni.

Wednesday also saw a step in the right direction for Florian Wirtz, who really had to turn up against lesser opposition in the Champions League. Wirtz was one of Liverpool’s best players on the night, and hopefully that will give him the confidence to come into the Brentford match and start to keep some of his critics quiet.

Although fans will be crossing their fingers that either Isak or Gakpo – or even both – could be back here, the reality is that if they do feature, it will be from the bench. Instead, Iraola will have the same options to pick from as he did at LASK.

That should be good news for Lewis Koumas, who has every reason to feel confident of a third consecutive start. The Welshman could be exactly the right player to get in the faces of a notoriously energetic Bees side.

Bradley Barcola also has to start again after claiming his first Liverpool goals on Wednesday. Like with Wirtz, the hope will be that a continental improvement will translate to better fortunes in the Premier League for the Frenchman.

Finally, although Rio Ngumoha was excellent on the right against LASK, it feels more likely that Iraola turns to the pace of Victor Munoz for this one. The Spaniard impressed last time out against Man City, and having not had enough time to get involved in the goalfest in Linz, he’ll be keen to make it count here.