Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest: Iraola Seeks First Win at Anfield
Anfield gets its first taste of Premier League football this season on Saturday lunchtime, with Liverpool still waiting for Andoni Iraola’s first victory in charge.
A chaotic 2-2 draw at Newcastle offered drama but not the statement result the new era craves. Now comes Nottingham Forest, beaten by Leeds United on the opening weekend yet arriving with just enough recent success at this ground to believe they can cause trouble.
Anfield expects. Iraola needs.
Liverpool’s selection puzzle
The new head coach goes into his home bow with a stretched squad.
Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitiké, Joe Gomez, Jayden Danns and Giovanni Leoni are all ruled out through injury. Curtis Jones is a doubt as he battles a groin problem, leaving Liverpool’s midfield options a little thinner than planned.
Off the pitch, the headline is Bradley Barcola. The Paris Saint-Germain forward is closing in on a £120 million move, a marquee signing for a new project, but the timing works against any early glimpse. Even if the paperwork lands in time, Liverpool do not expect him to feature, with his debut far more likely to come in next week’s trip to Ipswich Town.
So the focus turns back to those already in red.
Victor Muñoz changed the mood at St James’ Park. Thrown on late, he drove at Newcastle’s defence and won the stoppage-time penalty that salvaged a point. That cameo has thrust him into the selection debate for Anfield.
At the back, Iraola is expected to tweak his defence. Jérémy Jacquet is in line to continue alongside Virgil van Dijk, with at least one adjustment anticipated in the back four as the coach searches for a more solid base in front of Alisson.
Muñoz pushes, Gakpo stays, Isak leads
Muñoz’s spark in the North East has put him in genuine contention to start, potentially at the expense of Rio Ngumoha. The teenager turns 18 on matchday, a milestone occasion, but he may have to settle for an impact role from the bench if Iraola leans on experience and physicality from the first whistle.
Cody Gakpo is expected to keep his place on the left. He scored against Newcastle and, despite persistent transfer noise linking him with Tottenham and Manchester City, remains a central figure in Liverpool’s attacking plans.
Behind the front line, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai are set to retain their roles in midfield. Both will be asked to set the tempo and feed a front four built around Alexander Isak, whose movement and finishing are central to Iraola’s attacking blueprint.
The predicted Liverpool XI in a 4-2-3-1 shape:
Alisson; Frimpong, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Muñoz, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.
On paper, it is aggressive. At Anfield, it almost has to be.
Forest’s test and the stage ahead
Forest arrive under pressure after their defeat to Leeds, but with that recent positive record at Anfield offering a sliver of belief. They know this stadium can turn restless if the home side stutters. They also know Liverpool, under new management, are still knitting together ideas, patterns and partnerships.
Kick-off is at 12:30 on Saturday, 29 August 2026, live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate.
Liverpool open their home campaign with questions swirling around a new manager, a blockbuster signing on the way and a fanbase demanding liftoff. Does Iraola’s first win finally come with the Kop in full voice, or do Forest stretch the uncertainty into another uneasy week?
