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Andoni Iraola faces Rio Ngumoha decision as Liverpool consider another defensive overhaul Liverpool are next up against Como in their final pre-season friendly with Andoni Iraola facing some selection posers Liverpool continued their preparations for the season with a disappointing friendly loss to Monaco at Anfield on Sunday. Alexander Isak gave the Reds the lead and then claimed a touch on the second along with Florian Wirtz, only for a raft of substitutions to weaken the home team and send them tumbling to a 3-2 reverse. Andoni Iraola's side will complete their warm-up programme with an Anfield friendly against Como on Sunday evening after a game between the second string of both teams earlier in the day at the AXA Training Centre. And here we look ahead to the changes Reds head coach Iraola could make when his team are next in action. Araujo to step in? With the game coming just a week before the Premier League season starts at Newcastle United, Iraola will want to field a team as close as possible to the one that will step out on Tyneside. Iraola is hopeful £60million centre-back signing Jeremy Jacquet will have his first minutes as a Liverpool player having not quite been ready to return after his shoulder operation earlier in the year. But such an extended spell on the sidelines means the Frenchman is unlikely to be in the XI at Newcastle, suggesting imminent loan arrival Ronald Araujo may line up against Como alongside Virgil van Dijk in preparation for a likely instant debut the following weekend. Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni remain absent, and while teenager Ifeanyi Ndukwe has hugely impressed during recent friendlies, he is ineligible to play competitively for Liverpool until next season. Wataru Endo, though, was compelled to feature at centre-back for the second half on Sunday and will be on standby to reprise the role. In goal, Alisson Becker is the clear first choice ahead of Giorgi Mamardashvili and Freddie Woodman, and while Kostas Tsimikas has been given extended minutes at left-back this pre-season, Milos Kerkez is Iraola's preferred option. The injuries to Conor Bradley and Gomez mean Jeremie Frimpong is the sole available senior right-back, although the incoming Araujo can also play in the position. Youngsters Luke Chambers and Calvin Ramsay were involved against Monaco but should see any minutes limited. FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page Mac Allister wait Iraola's midfield options are poised to increase with Alexis Mac Allister having now returned to the AXA Training Centre after his World Cup exertions and Curtis Jones expected to be available after missing out against Monaco with a minor hip complaint. The Liverpool head coach, though, has previously indicated Mac Allister won't be ready to start at Newcastle and can perhaps expect bench duty at best on Sunday. Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch started in the two central midfield roles on Sunday and are emerging as the most likely to keep those places ahead of the Premier League opener, with Trey Nyoni, impressive during pre-season but among those to struggle against Monaco in the second half, a likely substitute. Florian Wirtz is the number 10 with Harvey Elliott still working towards match fitness after barely featuring for Aston Villa last season. Gakpo edges ahead Perhaps the greatest intrigue will be the make-up of the forward line against Como. Alexander Isak was on target against Monaco and should start down the middle as he builds up his sharpness. Similar to Mac Allister, new signing Victor Munoz won't start against Newcastle but is primed for more minutes after playing the last half-hour against Monaco on the left. Cody Gakpo started in the role, and would appear the man in possession with Rio Ngumoha having once again operated on the right when replacing the busy Lewis Koumas during the second half. Federico Chiesa's claims weren't helped by a fitful cameo while Kieran Morrison, who has started on the right in pre-season, was an unused substitute.