Iraola faces key Liverpool decisions before Manchester City visit

Liverpool host Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 4:30pm. Andoni Iraola has avoided defeat in his first five Premier League matches, becoming the first Liverpool manager to do so since Joe Fagan in September 1983. The visit of the league leaders now offers a much stronger measure of the Spaniard’s early work.

Iraola must first assess a depleted attack and defence after the international break. Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo returned to the AXA Training Centre with injuries and missed training, while Jeremy Jacquet has trained and is expected to be available. Joe Gomez, Ronald Araujo and Jeremie Frimpong could be involved defensively, while 21-year-old Lewis Koumas may cover for Isak. Hugo Ekitike remains months away from returning after an Achilles rupture.

Florian Wirtz is another major selection issue after a quiet performance at Bournemouth. The £116m signing has struggled to impose himself, but injuries to Isak and Gakpo increase the need for Wirtz and Bradley Barcola to produce in attack. Iraola must also settle the midfield balance: Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have recently been preferred ahead of Ryan Gravenberch in a two-man system.

The match begins a demanding spell of seven games in three competitions across three weeks, including meetings with Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Arsenal and Chelsea, plus Champions League action. Liverpool have conceded twice in each of their first two league games but followed that with three successive clean sheets. They have also recorded no home league win under Iraola, with their last Anfield victory coming against Crystal Palace on April 26.

ColdMath take

A result against City would show whether Liverpool’s unbeaten run can withstand stronger opposition. Iraola must manage injuries, find a workable midfield and decide how to use Wirtz during a crowded schedule.

The immediate target is Liverpool’s first home league win under the new manager, while maintaining the defensive improvement shown across the last three Premier League matches.