Liverpool XI vs Nottingham Forest: Iraola's Anfield Debut

Anfield finally lights up for the new season, and it does so with a story already simmering beneath the surface.

Nottingham Forest have walked into this stadium on their last two visits and left with wins. Their new head coach, Oliver Glasner, beat Liverpool twice last season with Crystal Palace as well. The away dugout knows exactly how to cause problems here.

Tonight, the home crowd meets a new face of their own. This is Andoni Iraola’s first Anfield outing in charge of Liverpool, and the Kop will demand that the recent Forest streak ends on his watch.

Team news: injuries bite, exits loom

Liverpool arrive with a few familiar absentees and one eye on the longer term.

Joe Gomez is still out, the defender continuing his recovery from the hamstring injury picked up in pre-season. Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley also miss out, both sidelined with long-term problems that leave Iraola light on defensive depth.

Hugo Ekitike remains unavailable as well. The forward is expected to be out until after Christmas with an achilles issue, ruling him out of the early months of the campaign.

Federico Chiesa is again a doubt after missing last week’s 2-2 draw at Newcastle United. Even if he proves his fitness, competition for a place in the matchday squad is fierce.

Harvey Elliott will not be involved as he edges closer to an exit, his absence underlining the sense of transition around this Liverpool side.

Liverpool’s confirmed XI

Iraola’s first Anfield teamsheet in the Premier League era has a sharp, attacking look to it:

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk (C), Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Gakpo, Munoz, Isak.

Bench: Mamardashvili, Araujo, Tsimikas, Endo, Gravenberch, Nyoni, McConnell, Koumas, Ngumoha.

Virgil van Dijk again leads a back line that features Jeremie Frimpong’s thrust on the right and Milos Kerkez on the left, with Jacquet partnering the captain in the middle. Alexis Mac Allister anchors the midfield alongside Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz, a trio built to control the ball and punch through lines.

Up front, Cody Gakpo, Munoz and Alexander Isak carry the goal threat, a fluid front three tasked with finally breaking Forest’s recent grip on Anfield.

Glasner has history here. Forest have history here. Iraola, and a restless Kop, are desperate to write something very different into it tonight.