Andoni Iraola has ruled Federico Chiesa out of Liverpool’s meeting with Nottingham Forest and used his pre-match press conference to warn his players about the shape Oliver Glasner has already given the Reds.
Forest travel to Anfield on Saturday sitting 15th, still waiting on a first goal of the season after a 0-1 home defeat to Leeds United and a 0-2 EFL Cup exit to the same opponents. They have, though, won on each of their last two visits to Merseyside, including a 3-0 success last season.
Liverpool team news: Chiesa out, Elliott left waiting
Speaking before his first home game in charge, Iraola confirmed Chiesa is unavailable. “Fede is not available, in the game against Como he felt something in his back,” he said, as reported by the Nottingham Post. Harvey Elliott, also absent from the opening-day squad, remains a selection call rather than an injury: “Harvey is trying and improving every week but I still prefer other options, about the balance on the bench.”
Andoni Iraola Nottingham Forest verdict
The Liverpool head coach, a 2-2 draw at Newcastle behind him, was pointed about Glasner’s impact two games into the Austrian’s City Ground tenure.
“He has been very successful,” Iraola said. “You can see straight away the shape. They don’t concede many chances, against Leeds it was a very tight game which was won with a free-kick in the last minute. We will have to earn every chance, win our duels, nothing is for free … defensively they are very solid and have very good players. In transitions they are good threats on the counter.”
Glasner takes club-record signing Liam Delap to Anfield with Morgan Gibbs-White still a doubt. Full build-up is in our Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest preview and team news.
