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Crystal Palace vs Liverpool: What Should Be Andoni Iraola’s Starting XI?

Subhadeep Roy · · 3 min read

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Crystal Palace vs Liverpool: What Should Be Andoni Iraola’s Starting XI?
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – NOVEMBER 04: Alexander Isak (9) of Liverpool celebrates after scoring the second goal of his team with teammates during the UEFA Champions League 2026 27 match between Fenerbahce and Liverpool at Chobani Stadium on November 04, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkiye. Istanbul Kadikoy Turkiye Copyright: xSeskimphotox FBahce-Liverpool-041126 (264)

The Premier League Crystal Palace vs Liverpool match will take place at Selhurst Park on Sunday, November 8. Liverpool have now lost two successive matches and will be looking for a win against Palace this weekend.

The Crystal Palace vs Liverpool match will force Andoni Iraola to think twice before fielding his XI. What are the changes he is likely to make?

Crystal Palace vs Liverpool: What Should be Liverpool’s Starting XI?

The first question Iraola will face is whether Ronald Araujo will be available. Araujo missed the match against Fenerbahce in Turkey, and should he be absent from the Crystal Palace vs Liverpool match as well, Joe Gomez might start as the right-back once again. Gomez is an experienced player, but has not played regularly this season so far.

The same problem exists in the left-back position, as Konstantinos Tsimikas and Milos Kerkez will battle it out. Tsimikas started in the match in Turkey, but his crossing was not up to the mark.

Choosing the double-pivot might be another dilemma for Iraola. He might dabble with the idea of starting with Trey Nyoni, who has been impressive in the last two matches, and Ryan Gravenberch. Alexis Mac Allister does not have the ability to carry the ball into the final third often, which Gravenberch does.

With the assurance of Nyoni staying back, Gravenberch’s forward runs might prove to be very effective for the Reds to break open the Crystal Palace defence. Iraola will also have to decide between Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz as the No.10.

Wirtz’s form has been nothing special, and the German playmaker was dropped in the match against Fenerbahce. As a result, Szoboszlai might once again start as the No. 10 in the Crystal Palace vs Liverpool match.

Then, there is the job of choosing the wingers. Bradley Barcola might be given another chance to impress on the left flank, and Rio Ngumoha, who was very good against Fenerbahce, might start on the right flank. In that case, Victor Munoz and Cody Gakpo might have to start on the bench again.

However, Iraola might think of starting with the experienced Gakpo on the right and introduce Ngumoha as a surprise package later in the match.

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Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe seen during UEFA Champions League 2026 2027 league phase game between teams of AEK Athens and Real Madrid (Kazimierz Koper Ball Raw Images) Athens ALLWYN Arena Grecce Copyright: xKazimierzxKoperx KAZ_AEKvREL-024

Extra Time Notes

Liverpool have 15 points in nine matches and are already nine points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal. The Reds are in the fifth position, and a win in the Crystal Palace vs Liverpool match might help them break into the top four.

In such a scenario, opting for the right players is very important ahead of the Crystal Palace vs Liverpool match. It will determine how well the Reds fare on the pitch on Sunday.

Iraola’s project at Liverpool is still far from finished, but collecting points is important at the same time for them. Hence, earning anything less than three points from the Crystal Palace vs Liverpool match will push them further back in the race to finish inside the top four. It remains to be seen whether Iraola’s men are able to do the job on Sunday.

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Subhadeep Roy

Subhadeep Roy is an experienced football writer with a particular interest in analysis of matches and club news. He follows the Premier League primarily and has been covering football for various websites since 2018. He has written for websites like sportskeeda.com and playing for 90 in the past. He has done his MBA in 2009 and has been following his passion for sports by writing on it for almost a decade now.

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