Gravenberch back, Tsimikas for Kerkez: Liverpool predicted lineup vs Fenerbahce

Liverpool go to Istanbul with a perfect Champions League record and a goal problem at home, and we expect Andoni Iraola to freshen things up after the defeat by Arsenal.

Fenerbahce host Liverpool at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on Wednesday, 4 November, with kick-off at 5.45pm UK time. The Reds have won all three of their league-phase games so far, beating Atletico Madrid 2-1, LASK 6-3 and Villarreal 4-3, the last of those after coming back from two goals down.

The mood is not quite as bright after Sunday. Kai Havertz’s early goal won it for Arsenal at Anfield, and Liverpool finished with 17 shots and none on target. We went through that afternoon in our Liverpool 0-1 Arsenal breakdown, and two things from it shape this selection: Milos Kerkez limping off, and Ryan Gravenberch not getting a minute.

Iraola has shown he will rotate in Europe. Before Villarreal he made six changes and explained: “Different circumstances. It is the fourth game in 10 days. Florian [Wirtz] and Bradley [Barcola] have played almost every minute.” Liverpool are nearing the end of a run of nine games in 29 days, and they still have a trip to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday before the international break.

Liverpool predicted lineup vs Fenerbahce

Liverpool predicted lineup vs Fenerbahce (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Gomez, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.

Alisson Becker: no reason to change now

The goal on Sunday came from Alisson’s loose pass as Liverpool tried to play out from a goal-kick, and it was a costly one. But he also kept the score at 1-0 with a brilliant stop from Christos Tzolis in the second half.

Giorgi Mamardashvili had the gloves for the cup win over Chelsea, while Alisson started against Villarreal in this competition. We see no reason for Iraola to break that pattern after one mistake.

Joe Gomez: a breather for Araujo

Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring) and Conor Bradley (knee) are both out, so right-back has been Ronald Araujo’s job. He has started against Villarreal, Chelsea and Arsenal, and was replaced on 46 and 82 minutes in two of them.

Gomez started the Carabao Cup tie against Chelsea and came off the bench against Villarreal. With Palace four days later, this is the natural place to give Araujo a rest. If Iraola wants the stronger option, Araujo simply keeps the shirt.

Jeremy Jacquet: the steady one

Jacquet did his job against Arsenal, with the vital interceptions that kept the gap at one. He started against Villarreal and Arsenal, and we would keep the partnership together in a hostile stadium.

Virgil van Dijk: the captain stays

Van Dijk has not missed a start in this run, and after a defeat like Sunday’s this is not the night to leave out the captain. Liverpool’s defending was not the problem at Anfield; finishing was.

Kostas Tsimikas: covering for Kerkez

Kerkez was one of Liverpool’s livelier players on Sunday, getting into the box far more than usual, but he left the pitch with the back of his left leg bothering him. There has been no update on him since, and he is not on the list of absentees.

Even if he is fit, we would not risk him in Turkey. Tsimikas started the Villarreal win and came on for Kerkez on Sunday, so he is ready.

Ryan Gravenberch: a chance to answer back

Gravenberch sat on the bench for all 90 minutes against Arsenal, as Iraola trusted Trey Nyoni instead. The Dutchman started against Villarreal and Chelsea, but the cup night was a poor one for him and he missed his kick in the shootout.

Iraola has still backed him in public: “We trust him. We know what he can produce and like with other players, when they don’t play well, I try to help to improve the things I think he can improve.” This is his chance to remind everyone why he was handed an improved six-year contract in March.

Alexis Mac Allister: too important to rest

Mac Allister was one of Liverpool’s best players against Arsenal, the one really driving them forward in the second half. We would keep him in and leave the rotation to the others around him.

Rio Ngumoha: time to start him

Liverpool looked sharper when Ngumoha came on for Cody Gakpo on 67 minutes, and we would have liked to see him sooner. He started on the right against Villarreal and is the one wide player in the squad who goes past defenders on his own. Barcola faded after a quiet first half on Sunday, so he drops to the bench.

Florian Wirtz: back behind the striker

Wirtz hit the crossbar with a free-kick against Arsenal and did little else. Iraola sees him at his best just behind the striker, and that is where we put him, with Dominik Szoboszlai not long back from his hamstring problem and better used from the bench.

Cody Gakpo: on the left

Gakpo has started all three recent games and was quiet on Sunday. He played on the left against Villarreal, and we expect him there again, with Ngumoha on the other side.

Alexander Isak: the man Liverpool need firing

Isak has six goals in eight Premier League games but got very little service against Arsenal, and he was the one pulled back by the shirt in the penalty shout that went against Liverpool. Lewis Koumas led the line against Villarreal while Isak’s minutes were managed. With the Reds scoring 12 goals in three Champions League games, Iraola will want his No.9 back among them.

Who else is missing for Liverpool?

Frimpong and Bradley are both aimed at the Manchester United game on 22 November. Giovanni Leoni has had a setback in his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury, and Hugo Ekitike is still working back from his ruptured Achilles. Ekitike is in the Champions League squad but is not expected before the festive period. Liverpool have nobody suspended.

Is Nyoni rested after two starts in a week?

We think so. Nyoni started the penalty shootout win over Chelsea and then his first Premier League start against Arsenal, when we had wrongly picked Gravenberch in our XI for that game. He had never started two games inside a week before. He said after Sunday: “It has been a positive week (for me) but we’ve got the game on Wednesday now we need to try to win.” He will be on the bench and, if Iraola backs him again, he could start ahead of Gravenberch.

Szoboszlai, Barcola, Araujo, Nyoni and Koumas give Iraola plenty to change the game in the second half.

Liverpool predicted lineup vs Fenerbahce (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Gomez, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.