Liverpool team news: Isak and Szoboszlai back for Brentford trip

By King of the Kop on 17th October 2026 No Comments

Cody Gakpo returns to the bench as Andoni Iraola makes six changes for the Premier League visit to the Gtech Community Stadium

Liverpool starting XI and substitutes against Brentford, with Isak and Szoboszlai starting and Gakpo on the bench.

Alexander Isak and Dominik Szoboszlai return to Liverpool’s starting XI at Brentford, with Cody Gakpo also back among the substitutes.

Andoni Iraola makes six changes from Wednesday’s Champions League win over LASK as the Reds seek a response to last weekend’s Premier League defeat by Manchester City.

The match kicks off at 3pm BST on Saturday 17 October at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Liverpool confirmed line-up vs Brentford

Liverpool: Alisson; Ronald Araujo, Jeremy Jacquet, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez; Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister; Victor Munoz, Florian Wirtz, Bradley Barcola; Alexander Isak.

Substitutes: Giorgi Mamardashvili, Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo, Cody Gakpo, Kostas Tsimikas, Jeremie Frimpong, Trey Nyoni, Lewis Koumas, Rio Ngumoha.

Isak and Szoboszlai return as Gravenberch serves ban

Isak’s return gives Liverpool a recognised focal point ahead of Wirtz, with Barcola and Munoz providing the threat from wide positions. Barcola keeps his place after scoring a hat-trick in Austria.

Szoboszlai partners Mac Allister in midfield, where Ryan Gravenberch is unavailable following his sending-off against City. His return is particularly timely for a side that must cope with Brentford’s threat when possession changes hands.

Van Dijk and Kerkez are restored to the starting defence after being named on the bench in midweek. Araujo and Jacquet also start in front of Alisson.

Gakpo’s inclusion gives Iraola another attacking option from the bench, alongside Koumas and Ngumoha. Federico Chiesa is absent from the matchday squad.

Brentford confirmed line-up

Brentford: Caoimhin Kelleher; Michael Kayode, Kristoffer Ajer, Sepp van den Berg, Keane Lewis-Potter; Yehor Yarmoliuk, Vitaly Janelt; Dango Ouattara, Mathias Jensen, Jaidon Anthony; Igor Thiago.

Substitutes: Hakon Valdimarsson, Aaron Hickey, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Nathan Collins, Fabio Carvalho, Mamadou Sangare, Mikkel Damsgaard, Callum Wilson, Kevin Schade.

Former Liverpool players Kelleher and Van den Berg both start for the hosts, with Carvalho among the substitutes.

What Liverpool need to get right

Brentford began the day fourth and unbeaten in the Premier League, one point ahead of Liverpool. This is a demanding test of whether the Reds can turn their attacking confidence from Europe into a more complete league performance.

The selection offers encouragement. Isak gives Wirtz a central target, while Gakpo’s return provides more scope to change the attack later in the game. The midfield pairing must also protect the defence when Liverpool commit players forward.

For Liverpool, the task is to make those returning players count without allowing the game to become an exchange of chances.