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Soccer
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Dave Davis and Lewis Steele close out Media Matters by tackling one of the biggest questions surrounding Andoni Iraola's Liverpool: does the head coach actually know his strongest XI yet?
Injuries to Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak have created uncertainty ahead of Liverpool's next fixtures, leaving Iraola potentially considering Bradley Barcola through the middle, Lewis Koumas or even a false-nine solution.
Lewis believes Liverpool's defensive picture is becoming clearer, but midfield and attack remain far less settled. Competition for places is healthy, although the coming weeks now provide an opportunity for individual players to establish themselves and give Iraola some definitive answers.
Attention then turns towards Liverpool's ceiling this season. Lewis believes challenging for the Premier League title remains possible, although winning it may still represent a step too far. With Liverpool six points behind Manchester City at the point discussed in the transcript, the upcoming meeting with City could significantly change that picture.
City, Brentford, Brighton, Chelsea, Arsenal and Crystal Palace form a demanding sequence before the next international break. Liverpool's response could tell us considerably more about just how far Iraola's new side can go
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"Liverpool's Big Problem: Are We Shopping In The Wrong Market?" is an episode of The Anfield Index Podcast. Runtime 20 min. Published September 29, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.