Liverpool XI vs Brentford: Predicted lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Premier League today

Reds boss Andoni Iraola has not been able to call upon the key trio since before the recent extended international break, significantly weakening his first-choice starting XI.

Forwards Isak (thigh) and Gakpo (ankle), meanwhile, both returned to Merseyside early during the international window after sustaining problems while playing for Sweden and the Netherlands respectively.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexander Isak will hope to return for Liverpool at Brentford

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Mac Allister will surely be restored to the starting lineup against Brentford, with 19-year-old Trey Nyoni likely to keep his place in the midfield engine room from midweek if Szoboszlai remains unavailable.

The absences of Isak and Gakpo have led to Nyoni’s fellow highly-rated youngster Lewis Koumas being offered the opportunity to lead Liverpool’s attack of late, and he scored his first Champions League goal against LASK after initially seeing two disallowed for offside.

Koumas would presumably be entrusted with the starting striker role again if the injury picture remains unchanged, supported from the left by Wednesday’s hat-trick hero Bradley Barcola.

Florian Wirtz seems to retain Iraola’s faith as the No10 for now despite more criticism of his performances from the likes of Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher, though a return for the versatile Szoboszlai would give the manager more options in that regard.

Fan favourite Rio Ngumoha replaced summer signing Victor Munoz on the right flank in Austria, with those two battling it out again for a starting spot on Saturday.

That return will see Barcelona loanee Ronald Araujo shift to the right as Van Dijk slots back in alongside Jeremy Jacquet, with the struggling Jeremie Frimpong dropping out.

Milos Kerkez will also return at left-back at the expense of Kostas Tsimikas, who captained Liverpool against LASK, with Alisson Becker a familiar figure in goal.

Predicted Liverpool XI vs Brentford (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Nyoni; Munoz, Wirtz, Barcola; Koumas