Andoni Iraola could deploy Florian Wirtz as a false nine if Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo fail to recover from international injuries before Liverpool’s Manchester City visit on Sunday, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Both forwards had their national team duty cut short with injury concerns. The Echo’s analysis suggests Wirtz’s pressing ability and high work rate from his time at Bayer Leverkusen could make him an effective disruptor against City’s build-up play, whilst allowing Iraola to field a solid midfield trio of Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister.
Alternative options are limited. Lewis Koumas could operate as a centre forward, though the Echo suggests that role suits him better from the bench, whilst Federico Chiesa remains unavailable and Jayden Danns lacks match sharpness.
Sources
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