Andoni Iraola has received a major double selection boost for Liverpool’s Premier League trip to Brentford, with both Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexander Isak handed immediate starts at the Gtech Community Stadium.

In total, Iraola has made six alterations from the side that secured a midweek victory over LASK in Linz. The changes restore key structural pillars across every department as Liverpool debut their new black and maroon 2026/27 Adidas third kit against Keith Andrews’ fourth-placed Bees.

Key Team News & Tactical Shifts

• Midfield Restructure: With Ryan Gravenberch serving a domestic suspension, Szoboszlai steps straight back into the central pivot alongside Alexis Mac Allister. The Hungarian midfielder spent the international break recovering from a minor knock suffered on duty, but his full return provides crucial athletic cover and ball progression.
• Isak Restored to Attack: Alexander Isak spearheads the frontline after overcoming his own fitness hurdle, supported by an inventive attacking trio of Victor Muñoz, Florian Wirtz, and Bradley Barcola—the latter keeping his place after a sensational hat-trick performance against LASK.
• Defensive Stability Restored: After an experimental midweek backline surrendered three goals in a chaotic 15-minute spell in Austria, Alisson is re-protected by Liverpool’s first-choice defensive unit: Ronald Araujo, Jeremy Jacquet, captain Virgil van Dijk, and Miloš Kerkez.
• Bench Boost: Cody Gakpo returns from an ankle injury to take a place among the substitutes alongside Jeremie Frimpong, Joe Gomez, and promising academy midfielder Trey Nyoni. Federico Chiesa drops out of the matchday squad as a consequence.

Confirmed Lineups & Matchday Squads

Our side to take on Brentford 👊 #BRELIV pic.twitter.com/24Xblf6j3G

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 17, 2026

Tactical Context & Brentford Connections

For Brentford, manager Keith Andrews names former Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and defender Sepp van den Berg in his starting lineup, while another ex-Anfield talent, Fábio Carvalho, starts on the bench.

The match represents a significant test for Iraola’s side against a Brentford team currently sitting fourth in the Premier League table. With Liverpool debuting their new black and maroon kit to avoid a color clash at the Gtech, the immediate returns of Szoboszlai and Isak offer crucial tactical bite in what promises to be a high-intensity encounter.