hemvig,
Familiar mostly with top/top and bottom/bottom arrangements of nozzles. If Sulzer makes a side/top like in Pumpsonly's PDF, then it must be fine, they are as good as it gets.
There shouldn't be any inherent problem with side/side (especially in a barrel), if it was designed that way by a reputable manufacturer. They would take into account the non-symetric loads on the barrel; there's usually plenty of meat there to offset any static unbalance.
The question I would ask you is, "Why are you looikng to design the pump nozzles around your piping design???" Probably a space constraint, but many dangers are lurking.
Many times when pumps are designed into a cobweb of piping and other space constraints, the pump ends up being a "pipe hanger". Though not a part of the design, somewhere along the line in these situations, someone fudges a bit and you end up with piping flange an inch or so out of line with pump nozzle. Then a spud wrench with a cheater pipe and a big guy jumping up and down on it, is used to "align" the flange holes, pump is bolted up and everything looks fine. Then nobody can figure out why the pump can't keep seals in it and is always out of alignment.
May not have anything to do with your particular scenario, but keep in mind that piping should be designed around the pump.