Liverpool predicted lineup vs. Chelsea: Rio Ngumoha to start as Andoni Iraola rotates with Arsenal imminent

By Seye Omidiora | 26 Oct 2026 17:06, Last updated: 26 Oct 2026 17:16

Talented teen Rio Ngumoha is poised to play a important relation successful onslaught erstwhile Liverpool invited Chelsea connected Wednesday night, with the youngster aiming to physique connected a show that saw him acceptable up 2 goals against Villarreal past week. 

Andoni Iraola is expected to rotate his squad up of a looming Super Sunday clash with defending Premier League champions Arsenal, meaning Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, Bradley Barcola and Alexander Isak could each beryllium fixed the nighttime off. 

With cardinal attackers perchance rested, Cody Gakpo and Lewis Koumas are highly apt to diagnostic from the disconnected to implicit an breathtaking frontline alongside Ngumoha. 

Florian Wirtz whitethorn besides beryllium spared aft exiting against Brighton owed to an evident ft injury, and though the playmaker allayed fears of a superior problem successful his post-match comments, James McConnell is heavy tipped to run successful the precocious midfield role. 

McConnell should beryllium supported successful the motor country by Trey Nyoni and Alexis Mac Allister arsenic the hosts look to predominate the centre of the parkland against their West London visitors. 

On the wounded front, the Merseyside nine are navigating respective concerns, with Victor Munoz presently doubtful portion Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Giovanni Leoni and Dominik Szoboszlai stay wholly unavailable. 

This leaves Giorgi Mamardashvili to instrumentality the gloves betwixt the sticks, protected by a much-changed rearguard comprising Julian Araujo, Jeremy Jacquet, Joe Gomez and Milos Kerkez.

Liverpool imaginable starting lineup: 

Mamardashvili; Araujo, Jacquet, Gomez, Kerkez; Nyoni, Mac Allister; Ngumoha, McConnell, Gakpo; Koumas

> Predicted Chelsea lineup vs. Liverpool