Andoni Iraola faces major Jeremy Jacquet decision as Liverpool consider more forward options

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

Liverpool completed their preparations for the season with an encouraging friendly win over Como at Anfield on Sunday evening. Cody Gakpo and new signing Jeremy Jacquet scored in the first half as the Reds responded to successive warm-up defeats with a 2-0 triumph against the Serie A side.

Andoni Iraola's side will now begin their Premier League campaign with his first competitive game in charge at Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon.

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

OPINION

Centre-back choice

With the real stuff now on the horizon, the reality is the Liverpool starting line-up will not be massively dissimilar to the one that took to the field for large parts of last season given the relative lack of transfer activity.

One change, though, will be in the centre-back position alongside captain Virgil van Dijk. With Joe Gomez injured and Giovanni Leoni not yet ready to return after his ACL injury last September, it is now a straight shootout between £60million man Jeremy Jacquet and on-loan Ronald Araujo, both of whom debuted for 45 minutes again Como.

Jacquet was the more impressive but the greater experience of Araujo suggests he could be given the nod. Wataru Endo and Luke Chambers have also featured in the heart of defence in pre-season.

At left-back, Milos Kerkez is the clear favourite ahead of Kostas Tsimikas while the injuries to Gomez and Conor Bradley mean Jeremie Frimpong is almost certain to start at right-back, although the versatile Araujo can also do a job there. Calvin Ramsay has still not featured in the Premier League.

In goal, Alisson Becker is the first choice ahead of Giorgi Mamardashvili while Freddie Woodman wasn't involved the last two weekends.

Settled midfield

Florian Wirtz is the number 10 around whom Iraola plans to build his attack, with the Germany international likely among the first names on the teamsheet.

Behind him, the recently preferred duo of Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai are primed to once again start given Alexis Mac Allister only last week returned for training and Curtis Jones, wanted by Inter Milan, has been missing for almost a fortnight with a hip problem.

Teenager Trey Nyoni has been a regular option in the two deeper midfield roles during the summer. The more attack-minded Harvey Elliott, though, has appeared hampered by his lack of football in recent years and may not even make the bench at St James' Park.

James McConnell is another engine room option but could have departed on loan before the match comes around.

Ngumoha or Koumas?

One of Iraola's biggest decisions is who to line up on the right flank of the attack. Alexander Isak is the first-choice central striker, while Cody Gakpo's recent performances have been sufficient to suggest he will start on the left.

The right-wing role, then, would appear between Rio Ngumoha and Lewis Koumas, given Iraola has previously stated £34.5million man Victor Munoz is not ready to start the season after his late return from the World Cup.

Federico Chiesa and youngsters Kieran Morrison and Will Wright have had opportunities during the warm-up programme but would have bench duty at best.

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