Liverpool name Munoz in confirmed XI vs Nottingham Forest
Liverpool have confirmed Victor Munoz will make his full debut in their Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday lunchtime. Andoni Iraola makes two changes from the 2-2 draw at Newcastle, with Alexis Mac Allister starting and Ryan Gravenberch and Rio Ngumoha dropping to the bench.
The official team sheet landed roughly 25 minutes before kick-off, ending speculation after pre-match predictions had Gravenberch in the starting eleven. For more offbeat football twists this season, see our Bizarre World hub.
Key Takeaways
- Victor Munoz starts his first full Liverpool match as Iraola reshapes the attack at Anfield.
- Alexis Mac Allister returns to the XI; Ryan Gravenberch and Rio Ngumoha move to the bench.
- Liverpool seek a first Premier League win in five games after Szoboszlai's late penalty salvaged a draw at Newcastle.
- Nottingham Forest arrive having won their last two visits to Anfield without conceding.
- The match kicks off at 12.30pm BST on TNT Sports 1, with Liverpool priced at 1-2 to win.
Who starts for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest?
According to Liverpool FC's official announcement, the confirmed XI is: Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Wirtz, Gakpo, Munoz; Isak.
The substitutes are Mamardashvili, Endo, Tsimikas, Araujo, Gravenberch, Nyoni, McConnell, Koumas and Ngumoha. Federico Chiesa remains out with a muscle injury, while Joe Gomez, Hugo Ekitike, Jayden Danns, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are also sidelined.
Why does Victor Munoz's full debut matter?
Munoz's inclusion is the headline call from Iraola's second Premier League match in charge. The Spain forward replaces Rio Ngumoha, signalling a more experienced look in attack alongside Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.
It also underlines how quickly Liverpool's new manager is willing to rotate. Munoz was listed among the substitutes in pre-match predicted line-ups published earlier on Saturday, making his promotion to the starting XI a late surprise for supporters expecting Gravenberch to retain his place.
What changed from Liverpool's line-up at Newcastle?
Iraola has made exactly two alterations from last weekend's stalemate at St James' Park. Mac Allister comes in for Gravenberch in midfield, while Munoz replaces Ngumoha in the front line.
That Newcastle trip ended 2-2 after Dominik Szoboszlai converted a late penalty. Liverpool were twice caught on the counter-attack and have now gone five Premier League games without a victory, failing to keep a clean sheet in their last eight outings.
Can Nottingham Forest test Liverpool at Anfield?
Forest travel under Oliver Glasner, who has lost his first two home matches in charge to Leeds in the league and cup. Midfielder Ibrahim Sangare is absent with a calf injury, though Morgan Gibbs-White and Ryan Yates are available. New £50 million signing Liam Delap could debut from the bench.
Despite their own rebuild, Forest have a recent record to lean on. They have won on their last two trips to Anfield without conceding, and Liverpool have scored no more than two goals in each of their last five meetings with Forest. Racing Post's preview notes Liverpool's vulnerability from set pieces — they conceded 20 last season, more than any Premier League side — which could suit towering centre-back Nikola Milenkovic.
Forest are offered at 21-4 to win with the draw at 7-2, reflecting how tight this fixture could prove despite Liverpool's home advantage on paper.