Dugout Discussion

Starts for Salah, Firmino and Mane in Liverpool’s season opener

As expected, there are starts for Liverpool’s attacking trio of Mohamed Salah (£13.0m), Sadio Mane (£9.5m) and Roberto Firmino (£9.5) as the Reds welcome West Ham United to Anfield this afternoon.

Fabinho (£6.0m), who missed a penalty in the Tuesday night friendly win over Torino, is only fit enough for a place on the substitute’s bench after struggling with illness this week. James Milner (£5.5m) however has recovered from a head injury to take his place in the three-man midfield alongside Georgino Wijnaldum (£5.5m) and Naby Keita (£7.5m).

Joe Gomez (£5.0m) has won his own fitness battle to line up in the Liverpool defence, which is otherwise at full strength. Alisson (£5.5m) makes his league debut for the Reds between the sticks.

Having missed West Ham United’s final pre-season fixtures with a hip injury, Andriy Yarmolenko (£7.0m) only features as a substitute for the Hammers today. Michail Antonio (£7.0m) takes his place on the right flank.

Declan Rice (£4.5m) looks set to feature out of position in the West Ham midfield, while there are competitive Irons debuts for Lukasz Fabianski (£4.5m), Ryan Fredericks (£5.0m), Fabian Balbuena (£4.5m), Jack Wilshere (£5.0m) and Felipe Anderson (£7.0m).

In the other 13:30 BST kick-off, Cedric Soares (£4.5m) has been passed fit to play at wing-back after missing all of Southampton’s pre-season.

Jack Stephens (£4.5m) gets the nod over Jan Bednarek (£4.0m) in central defence, while Manolo Gabbiadini  (£6.0m) is only among the substitutes – along with Danny Ings (£5.5m).

Charlie Austin (£6.0m) is supported by Nathan Redmond and Stuart Armstrong (both £5.5m) in attack.

Matthew Lowton and Stephen Ward (both £5.0m) return at full-back for Burnley after being rested for the Thursday night Europa League fixture in Istanbul, while Chris Wood (£6.5m) is the sole striker in the attack.

Joe Hart (£4.5m) makes his Burnley league debut, with Tom Heaton (£5.0m) watching on from the bench.

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Milner, Keita; Firmino, Salah, Mane

West Ham XI (4-3-3): Fabianski; Fredericks, Ogbonna, Balbuena, Masuaku; Noble, Rice, Wilshere; Arnautovic, Antonio, Anderson

Southampton XI (3-4-2-1): McCarthy; Hoedt, Vestergaard, Stephens; Soares, Romeu, Lemina, Bertrand; Armstrong, Redmond; Austin

Burnley XI (4-4-1-1): Hart; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Ward; Gudmundsson, Westwood, Cork, Lennon; Hendrick; Wood

2,783 Comments Post a Comment
  1. My Name Is Pepu
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Mane (c)

    Let's goooo!!!

    1. Podge
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I went Firmino C for the laugh

    2. ENZO SZN™
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Going well so far.

  2. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Let's go Mo!

  3. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Let the fun begin 🙂

  4. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Robbo, Mane, Salah (C)

    2-1 VVD, Firmino and Arnie incoming.

    1. Les Bleus
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Salah, Mane, Arnie and Robbo.

      3-2 with Robbo involved

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Only VVD and Mane(c) here. Salah going to punish me, but that is life.

  5. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Come on Salah, time to get non-owners to panic and rip their teams to shreds.

    1. markmcr
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Salah brace and aguero blank pls

  6. Bielsa's Bucket
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Hart

  7. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    What a boring song.

  8. Sharkytect
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Does it help if you hide behind two sofas?

    1. Podge
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Only if you stack them

  9. Les Bleus
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Those without Salah (or captain) how big is your couch?

      1. Les Bleus
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        😉

      1. Les Bleus
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        😀

      2. yakirh
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        lol

      3. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        😆

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Not that big. But sitting on it comfortably watching the game.

    2. My Name Is Pepu
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Not bothered.

      Not having Salah let's me have a great team overall with Kun, Mane as standout captaincy options.

  10. the snazzy viking
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Salah(c), Mane + Robbo better all score 5 goals each

  11. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Hi guys. Did anyone else captain Salah?

    1. markmcr
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      just u mate

  12. Futile Tinkering
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    This site is boring without the FAIL and lol @ posts.

    1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Awww

      Try this one mate

      https://www.kidzworld.com/forums/

    2. Reedy
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      You must have a sophisticated sense of humour

    3. fab
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      loads of "that wasn't an assist" and "jammy AWB points" though

  13. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    What minute will Wilshere pull his hammy?

  14. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    How could I start Davies before Wan-Bissaka I wonder?

    1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Terrible decision. It was obvious really.

  15. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Look at Masuaku attacking

  16. Ravager
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Need something from the Liverpool boys. My points total sucks so far.

  17. Ginkapo FPL
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Salah fail

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Too slow Bemba, too slow.

  18. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Southampton evens to beat Burnley. Not sure about that.

  19. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Salah -bps

  20. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Salah offside

    -bps

  21. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Knew I should have captained Richarlison.

  22. Sting
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    masuaku a good budget option when fixtures change?

    1. Ghost Gooner
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Only playing due to Cresswell's injury. Reverse OOP as well

  23. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Everything going down Trent's side so far

    1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      He's lively

  24. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Salah>Pereyra -4?

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Do it

  25. Dr Dream
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    At least my brother has Aguero (c) to make my Salah (c) worth watching. I bet plenty of mini leagues are all Salah (c)...

  26. Shultan
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Worried bout not having firmino!
    Was sure he would be rested

    1. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      He barely kicked a ball at the WC

  27. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Fabianski instincts looking sharp. Could be a tough nut to crack.

    1. Parm
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      16th minute Salah finesse into the far corner will break the deadlock. Trust.

  28. Parm
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Pellegrini's ugly penalty box defensive line is back.

  29. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Don't Failminow

  30. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Keita looks sharp. Trent loads of crossing space on the right.