Anfield hosts a match shaped as much by late absences as by the two teams’ attacking ambitions, with Liverpool handing 21-year-old Welsh forward Lewis Koumas his first Premier League start against Manchester City. Andoni Iraola has turned to the young centre-forward after Alexander Isak was injured while away with Sweden and Hugo Ekitiké faced a lengthy lay-off.
Liverpool reshuffle in attack and midfield
Koumas leads the line for the Reds in a selection that also reflects another setback shortly before kick-off. Dominik Szoboszlai misses out with a hamstring issue, adding to Liverpool’s problems alongside Isak and Cody Gakpo.
- Lewis Koumas makes his first Premier League start at centre-forward.
- Jérémy Jacquet is available and starts in central defence.
- Szoboszlai’s hamstring complaint rules the Hungarian midfielder out at the last moment.
- Isak is unavailable after sustaining an injury on Sweden duty, while Gakpo is also absent.
Alisson starts in goal, behind a back four of Araujo, Virgil van Dijk, Jacquet and Kerkez. Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister form the midfield base, with Barcola, Florian Wirtz and Víctor Muñoz supporting Koumas.
City arrive with Haaland at the point
Manchester City make one notable alteration of their own, as Enzo Maresca leaves Josko Gvardiol among the substitutes and selects Nico O’Reilly in defence. Erling Haaland returns to spearhead the visitors’ attack after missing Norway’s opening Nations League fixture, a 2-1 defeat to Portugal.
The game is City’s first since the Premier League found the club guilty of 115 charges concerning breaches of its financial regulations.
- Gianluigi Donnarumma starts in goal for City.
- Matheus Nunes, Rúben Dias, Marc Guéhi and Nico O’Reilly make up the defence.
- Anderson and Enzo Fernández are deployed in midfield.
- Ndiaye, Rayan Cherki and Semenyo support Haaland.
Teams at Anfield
Liverpool
Alisson; Araujo, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Barcola, Wirtz, Víctor Muñoz; Koumas.
Substitutes: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Chiesa, Tsimikas, Frimpong, Nyoni, McConnell, Ngumoha.
Manchester City
Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guéhi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Enzo Fernández; Ndiaye, Cherki, Semenyo; Haaland.
Substitutes: Rulli, Kovacic, Doku, Reis, Gvardiol, Bouaddi, Allan, Khusanov, Lewis.
