A different kind of away day awaits

Midweek felt good. A Champions League romp in Austria has a way of lifting spirits, but Liverpool know better than most that the Premier League is a different beast entirely. Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium is about as far from a gentle confidence-booster as you can get, and the Reds have the scars to prove it, having been beaten 3-2 there last season.

Andoni Iraola's side arrive having suffered a sobering 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at Anfield last weekend, while Brentford come into this one unbeaten in the top flight this term and sitting inside the top four. Keith Andrews has his players firing, and Liverpool will need to be ready for a proper contest before any of their quality can do the talking.

The selection headaches Iraola must solve

There are a few moving parts here. Ryan Gravenberch is suspended, which is a significant loss to the engine room, and Dominik Szoboszlai is racing to pass a late fitness test. If the Hungarian doesn't make it, Trey Nyoni partners Alexis Mac Allister in the middle. If Szoboszlai does return, the consensus among our Echo writers points to him slotting in at number ten, with Nyoni still getting the nod alongside Mac Allister at the base of midfield.

Alexander Isak's fitness is the other big question up front. Three of our writers have Lewis Koumas leading the line as cover, though one backs Isak to make it and start. In defence, it looks like Ronald Araujo returns to right-back, with Virgil van Dijk partnering Jeremy Jacquet in the middle and Milos Kerkez at left-back. Liverpool haven't conceded with eleven men on the pitch in the Premier League since their August draw with Nottingham Forest, so that back line has real reason for confidence.

Where Wirtz and Ngumoha fit into the picture

Florian Wirtz played the full ninety minutes against LASK, which naturally raises questions about whether he needs a rest. One writer gives him exactly that, trusting Szoboszlai to fill the attacking midfield role, while another keeps Wirtz in the side in the position Iraola has specifically built for him. It's a genuine dilemma, and the answer likely depends on how Szoboszlai looks in training.

Rio Ngumoha, though, is retained on the right flank in all four predicted line-ups, which tells you something about the impression the youngster has made. Bradley Barcola is equally unanimous after his hat-trick in midweek, and quite right too. A player in that kind of form simply has to start.

The four predicted line-ups at a glance

The Echo writers' selections all settle on a 4-2-3-1 shape, and while the personnel varies slightly depending on fitness news, the framework is consistent. Alisson in goal. Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk and Kerkez across the back. Mac Allister and Nyoni as the double pivot. Ngumoha and Barcola wide, with either Wirtz or Szoboszlai through the middle. Koumas or Isak leading the line.

The full quartet of selections: Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Nyoni; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Barcola; Koumas. Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Nyoni; Ngumoha, Szoboszlai, Barcola; Koumas. Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Nyoni; Ngumoha, Szoboszlai, Barcola; Koumas. Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Nyoni; Ngumoha, Szoboszlai, Barcola; Isak. Iraola's team news will clarify the picture, and those fitness calls on Szoboszlai and Isak could end up defining how this afternoon pans out.