Andoni Iraola isn’t messing around, but he’s making some *huge* calls tonight for Liverpool’s Champions League clash against Fenerbahce in Istanbul. Five changes from the starting XI that just dropped a brutal match to Arsenal on Sunday. Seriously, *five* changes! The biggest head-scratcher? Both Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz are benched, kicking off on the substitutes’ bench with Cody Gakpo right there with them. This is a massive gamble, especially with Liverpool’s perfect 100% record in the Champions League on the line, and Fenerbahce being coached by a familiar face in Dirk Kuyt.
The Big Shake-Up: Who’s In, Who’s Out
After that rough weekend against the Gunners, Iraola is clearly shaking things up. While Alisson Becker keeps his spot in goal behind the familiar center-back pairing of Jeremy Jacquet and Virgil van Dijk, the full-backs are completely new. Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas are stepping in to start, pushing Ronald Araujo and Milos Kerkez to the bench. In the midfield, Trey Nyoni and Alexis Mac Allister held onto their spots. Good news on the injury front, though: Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz are back from injury and in the starting XI for this one, which is a relief. Unfortunately, Ryan Gravenberch is out with a heel issue.
Attacking Gamble and High Stakes in Istanbul
The real talking point has to be that attacking reshuffle. With Szoboszlai and Munoz coming back into the fold, Rio Ngumoha also joins them in the starting attack. Bradley Barcola is set to lead the line up top. But benching Isak, Wirtz, and Gakpo? That’s a bold move, especially with the pressure mounting. This game is Liverpool’s second to last assignment in what’s been a absolutely wild nine-match fixture sequence between international windows. They’ve already visited Istanbul twice in the last 13 months, losing both times to Galatasaray. Now they’re back, facing Fenerbahce, with their perfect Champions League run hanging by a thread. This isn’t just another game; it’s a test of Iraola’s rotations and a true make-or-break moment for their flawless European start.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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