Key events43m agoThe teams1h agoPreambleBarcola will certainly be put to work when he arrives at Anfield. Iraola sets out the load with this pace-and-eyebrow-raising manifesto.
“For me, wingers, forwards, I always tell them that they don’t need to give us 90 minutes. I tell them it is good news when they are exhausted because then we have taken everything from you and someone else will come in.”
A Spanish take on Jurgen Klopp’s heavy metal. Flamenco? The Basque tradition of trikitixa? Probably need to think about this some more. Or never again.Iraola will have another nice selection problem soon. News broke this morning of Liverpool finalising a deal, at long last, for PSG winger Bradley Barcola. Once the last hoop has been jumped through – a medical this weekend – one of the summer’s most tedious … no, let’s be nice … slowly unfolding tales will come to its natural end.Andoni Iraola takes charge of his first competitive match at Anfield as Liverpool manager this lunchtime, and he speaks to TNT Sports. “Emotional in my case … obviously it’s a game we want to win … you are focusing on the pitch … but for me it’s a special game, definitely, yes … it has to be difficult for me to choose a starting XI … what changes we can make in the second half … what the subs can provide … they were important against Newcastle and I hope today they are also important.”Liverpool make two changes to the side that drew 2-2 at Newcastle United last weekend. Alexis Mac Allister replaces Ryan Gravenberch in midfield, while Victor Munoz makes his full debut by taking over stand-in duties on the right wing from Rio Ngumoha. Cody Gakpo, who impressed last weekend but is now the subject of a £70m bid from Tottenham, retains his place amid the chatter.Nottingham Forest make one change to the team that lost 1-0 on the opening day at home to Leeds United. Ibrahim Sangaré is injured and so makes way in midfield for Xaver Schlager. Liam Delap, their new £50m signing from Chelsea, starts on the bench.The teamsLiverpool: Alisson, Frimpong, Jacquet, van Dijk, Kerkez, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Munoz, Wirtz, Gakpo, Isak.Subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Tsimikas, Araujo, Gravenberch, Nyoni, McConnell, Koumas, Ngumoha.Nottingham Forest: Sels, Cunha, Milenkovic, Murillo, Aina, Schlager, McAtee, Williams, Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Igor Jesus.Subs: John Victor, Diomande, Hudson-Odoi, Dominguez, Wood, Delap, Yates, Netz, Abbott.Referee: Sam Barrott
