The elephant in the room at AXA

Andoni Iraola is set to face the media this afternoon as Liverpool prepare to return to Premier League action, and there is one topic that will dominate proceedings before anyone even mentions a football. Manchester City arrive at Anfield on Sunday having been found guilty of all charges relating to their finances, and the debate over what should happen next has barely drawn breath since the verdict came in. Iraola will not be allowed to sidestep it.

City boss Enzo Maresca has already had his say ahead of the trip to Merseyside, and his players have been speaking too. One City figure told Sky Sports that the squad intends to "stick together" and "spread the love," insisting the group would "smile" through it and "enjoy the ride." Whether that spirit translates into points on a difficult afternoon at Anfield remains to be seen.

Three players in the treatment room spotlight

Beyond the noise surrounding City's charges, Iraola has more immediate concerns to address. Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Jeremy Jacquet all picked up injury scares during the international break, and question marks remain over the fitness of all three heading into Sunday's fixture. That is a significant headache, given how central each player has been to Iraola's thinking since he took charge on Merseyside.

Isak was last seen netting the only goal as Liverpool beat Iraola's former club Bournemouth on the south coast, a result that kept the Reds' unbeaten run under the new manager intact. City, though, are a different proposition entirely, and the last thing Liverpool need is to go into that fixture short of key personnel. Iraola will be expected to give clarity on all three when he speaks from 1.30pm.

What Iraola's presser needs to answer

This is shaping up to be one of the more loaded press conferences of the season so far. Liverpool have had almost three weeks away from league action, and the return could not come against a more complicated opponent. City carry both the weight of their legal verdict and the motivation that tends to follow a club playing under siege, and Iraola will need to have his preparation nailed regardless of the noise surrounding them.

The presser should give supporters a clearer picture on the fitness front and, perhaps, a sense of how the Liverpool camp is approaching the wider City situation. It will not be a quiet one. Ian Doyle and Paul Gorst are in attendance at the AXA Training Centre, and everything Iraola says will be brought to you as it happens.