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Andoni Iraola faces difficult Ryan Gravenberch decision as Liverpool consider new-look attack

Liverpool are next up against Brighton in the Premier League with Andoni Iraola facing some selection posers

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola(Image: Lewis Storey - Danehouse/Getty Images)

Three and, well, not exactly easy. But Liverpool have started to find some momentum after securing a third successive triumph by coming from behind to beat Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

It followed a European victory at LASK last midweek and the 2-1 Premier League triumph at Brentford, with Andoni Iraola now preparing for the second of four consecutive home matches with the top-flight visit of in-form Brighton on Sunday afternoon.

And here we look ahead to the changes the Reds head coach could make when his team are next in action.

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Kerkez under pressure

Iraola is certain to rotate his resources once again at the weekend with Liverpool playing the fifth of nine games in 29 days.

Alisson Becker, though, is very much first choice between the sticks ahead of Giorgi Mamardashvili and Freddie Woodman.

Left-back could be an interesting call, with Kostas Tsimikas providing assists in his last two starts in the Champions League either side of Milos Kerkez having an at times difficult afternoon at Brentford.

The other side of the defence will be no less straightforward with Jeremie Frimpong having joined Conor Bradley on the sidelines. Ronald Araujo has started the last two games at right-back but has been substituted at half-time on each occasion for tactical reasons, while Ryan Gravenberch impressed in the second half there against Villarreal. Joe Gomez is another option.

Both Gomez and Araujo are also alternatives at centre-back, although captain Virgil van Dijk and France international Jeremy Jacquet are now the firmly established preferred pairing. Giovanni Leoni is expected back in training during next month's international break.

Gravenberch question

Trey Nyoni impressed alongside the again outstanding Alexis Mac Allister in a deeper midfield role against Villarreal, but the return from Premier League suspension of Ryan Gravenberch has given Iraola a tough decision to make.

Gravenberch started in midweek in the number 10 role, but is expected to give way in that position for Florian Wirtz, who had a good cameo in the second half. The Netherlands international, though, could be asked to reprise his right-back appearance.

Dominik Szoboszlai has aggravated a hamstring injury while Wataru Endo, ineligible for the Champions League, still hasn't played a minute this season.

James McConnell came off the bench for the closing moments against Villarreal and is another option.

Barcola on standby

While Hugo Ekitike continues to recover from his long-term Achilles problem, Iraola is otherwise blessed with plentiful options in attack, although Victor Munoz will remain a concern having missed the game against Villarreal having scored at Brentford three days earlier.

Liverpool could afford to bench both Bradley Barcola and Alexander Isak in midweek with both anticipated to return down the left and the centre of the forward line respectively.

Barcola, though, could face competition from Cody Gakpo and man-of-the-moment Rio Ngumoha, although the latter has become more of a fixture on the right.

Lewis Koumas has started three of the last four games down the middle while Federico Chiesa, like Endo not part of the Champions League squad for the first stage, has just one brief substitute appearance this season.

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