Andoni Iraola will name his first competitive Liverpool team against Newcastle United this weekend, and is expected to include Alexander Isak.
Due to injuries and the fixture scheduling, Isak still has not faced his former club since sealing leaving for a record £125million transfer last summer.
In fact, the Swede was a Newcastle player when the sides met at St James’ Park last August as Rio Ngumoha scored a late winner for Liverpool after the hosts had fought back from 2-0 down with ten-men.
Then for the reverse fixture at Anfield - a 4-1 win for the Reds - Isak watched on from the sidelines as he was recovering from a broken leg sustained prior to Christmas against Tottenham.
There is not expected to be any love-lost between Isak and the St James’ Park faithful, especially after going on strike to force through his move.
Once idolised by the Newcastle supporters, the 26-year-old returns to the North East for the first time cast in the role of the pantomime villain seeking to get the Iraola Liverpool era off to a positive start.
Isak is set to be backed up by a midfield three of Ngumoha, Florian Wirtz and most likely Cody Gakpo, assuming Bradley Barcola - or any other winger - is not signed before the game.
In central midfield is where things get interesting. Alexis Mac Allister is way short of fitness having had an extended post-World Cup break, while Curtis Jones has been linked with a move to Inter Milan.
That would leave Trey Nyoni and Ryan Gravenberch doing battle to start alongside Dominik Szoboszlai. The youngster has really caught the eye in pre-season and it would be a big show of faith if he got the nod over the more experienced option.
A regular feature of Iraola’s Bournemouth teams were the attacking full-backs and he has inherited two at Liverpool with Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, reuniting with the latter this summer.
A debut in defence, partnering captain Virgil van Dijk, is a guarantee with loan signing Ronald Araujo getting the nod of Jeremy Jacquet as a physical battle is expected on Tyneside.
Liverpool predicted XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Araujo, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Nyoni, Szoboszlai; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.
