What LFC team news vs. Como means for starting XI at Anfield
· Sam Millne · 2026-08-16T10:13:03+00:00 · nguồn gốc
Liverpool’s first starting XI of the day against Como has given us a very good of idea of the team to expect when the Reds kick off at Anfield later on.
With Liverpool playing two games in one day, Andoni Iraola will make full use of his squad and the academy’s best prospects to ensure every player gets a useful run-out one week before the Premier League kicks off.
Sunday’s first friendly is at the AXA Training Centre consists of two 35-minute halves, before the players not used in Kirkby head to Anfield for a the second game of the day.
There should be practically a full house in L4, with friendlies a chance to attend for youngsters who are usually unable to get tickets.
As a result, Iraola has saved some of the Reds’ biggest names for the evening kick-off.
Potential 2nd game XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Arauajo, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Gakpo, Wirtz, Ngumoha; Isak
Alexander Isak should start just ahead of Florian Wirtz, as the pair look to continue their exciting partnership in attack.
Behind them, Rio Ngumoha and Tottenham-linked Cody Gakpo should line up on the flanks, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch acting as the two box-to-box midfielders.
In defence, Virgil van Dijk is expected to play alongside Jeremy Jacquet or loanee Ronald Araujo.
Ifeanyi Ndukwe has been the most impressive centre-half in pre-season, but he missed training on Thursday and is unable to feature for the Reds competitively this season.
Mor Talla Ndiaye, who is also on the bench for the first friendly, could therefore be a substitute at Anfield, too.
That all leaves Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong to play as full-backs with Alisson in goal.
It is possible that a player who featured in the first outing could travel to Anfield with the other team, but if it happens, it will most likely be an young, unused substitute from the morning’s game.
Curtis Jones back in training
Where Curtis Jones fits in here is a question that will be answered by the evening.
He missed the Reds’ match against Monaco with a slight hip injury, but he returned to training on Wednesday and should, in theory, be able to play at Anfield against Como.
However, given the player’s reported ongoing exploration of a move to Inter Milan, he could want to sit the match out to avoid injury.
Iraola, though, insisted that Jones’ absence last weekend was purely due to the reported hip problem, telling LFCTV: “Curtis, he has trained every day but yesterday finished with issues in the hip.
“It doesn’t look anything big but it didn’t make any sense to risk.”
Not every player will play 90 minutes at Anfield, so there will definitely be time for Jones to get on the pitch if he is included in the squad.