The injury crisis nobody needed right now

Andoni Iraola has been building something at Liverpool, but Sunday's visit of Manchester City arrives at precisely the moment his forward line has fallen apart. Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo have joined Hugo Ekitike on the treatment table, and the timing could hardly be worse for a head coach who believes the next nine matches in 29 days will define the shape of his squad and the ambitions of the season ahead.

For the first time, that injury crisis shifts genuine expectation onto the summer signings. Bradley Barcola, who cost £123 million, and Victor Munoz, brought in for £34.5 million, represent a combined outlay of £157.5 million and will need to deliver on the biggest domestic stage available. The added question of how much further 18-year-old Rio Ngumoha has developed, following two appearances for England during the international break, only adds another layer of intrigue to what is already a fascinating team selection puzzle.

The selection questions Iraola must answer

It is not just in attack where Iraola faces decisions. Whether Ronald Araujo continues at right-back ahead of Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez is unresolved, and there is a genuine midfield dilemma should Ryan Gravenberch return. Does Iraola reconfigure out of necessity, or does he hand teenager Trey Nyoni a first Premier League start after a series of impressive cameos from the bench?

Much of what Liverpool can produce offensively will likely flow through Florian Wirtz, whether the 23-year-old operates as a false nine or in his more natural number 10 position. Three weeks ago a poor first half at Bournemouth prompted considerable analysis of his contribution, but Wirtz impressed on international duty for Germany and Liverpool will be hoping that has provided a confidence boost at exactly the right moment. A big performance from him on Sunday would go a long way.

The City backdrop and the Anfield factor

If the team selection is complicated, the atmosphere in which the match will be played is anything but uncertain. The 114 guilty verdicts handed to Manchester City following the Premier League financial investigation have added a significant charge to what is already one of football's more combustible fixtures. Andoni Iraola, like most of his managerial peers, has remained measured and circumspect on the matter while an appeal process continues, but the Anfield crowd will have no such reservations.

Peter Crouch, speaking to Paddy Power, captured the mood plainly. "The atmosphere will be hostile, to say the least!" said the former Liverpool striker. "Liverpool pride themselves on being the biggest club in the country. The fact that they feel like they've been robbed of a few league titles won't be received well by the fans. There's usually a lot of hostility at that game anyway given the recent history, however there's certainly that extra layer to it now."

A record that needs addressing

For all the noise surrounding Sunday's fixture, Liverpool have a straightforward sporting problem to solve. Their recent record against City is poor. Three defeats last season, nine goals conceded and just one scored. Two wins from the previous nine meetings, five from the last 17. Those are numbers that need to change if Iraola is to convince both squad and supporters that his methods can deliver on the biggest occasions.

There are some grounds for encouragement. The dramatic injury-time defeat at Anfield in February was, notably, the first time Liverpool had lost at home to City in front of supporters since 2003. The fortress is not as porous as the overall head-to-head suggests. With City navigating their own uncertainty over what sanctions may follow once the appeal process concludes, Liverpool have every incentive to be well-placed when any openings emerge among the Premier League front-runners. Sunday is the perfect place to start staking that claim.