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. WVA
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Fuming i went Eriksen over Mane but still confident Eriksen will outscore Mane over the season.

    1. My Name Is Pepu
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Just get both;)

    2. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Is it a dead team league?

    3. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Yep, will likely swap over to Eriksen once Spurs look back on form.

    4. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      It's not about "over the season". There probably isn't a single player you'll keep for 38 GWs.

      1. Yellin' in my Ear
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Salah

    5. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Dont worry, when Eriksen and Spurs click form, we will switch Mane to Eriksen, got Mane points already

  2. sjhuk
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    How is Austin looking?

    1. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      With his eyes.

    2. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      With his eyes

    3. Jack Frost
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      I didn't see him mentioned at all in the extensive comments on my game log, don't have a video though. Same for Wood...

  3. Messiah Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Had to sacrifice Mane to be able to get in Aubameyang. Oh well at least Salah (c) scored

  4. Over Midwicket
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Salah on for a trademark 8 X 2 = 16 points. At 13mil, is he really worth it?

    1. El Matador
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      No take him out

    2. Bleach †
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Yes.

    3. Gazpilicueta
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      45 minutes left, he could be on 3 goals already.

    4. Cofinho
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      First half only

    5. Gashead9
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Still another half to go?

    6. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      If you have him as permanent captain and he scores every game then yes.

    7. noahzark22
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      yes

    8. CloudSky
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      (38x8) x2 = 608

      You tell me.

    9. Costa Nostra
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      At that rate he’ll have 608 points captaining him every game. I’d say yes. Well worth it.

  5. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    VVD, Mane and Salah (c). Very worried about not having Robertson the guy is lethal with his crosses and so advanced. TAA on free kicks is interesting also.

  6. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Is the site not loading for anyone else?

    1. Sahil Yadav
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Not working for me as well

    2. banskt
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      The site breaks with every single goal.

  7. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    But I heard Arnie is fixtures proof from here.

    1. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Some deluded people

  8. Bielsa's Bucket
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Triple up Robbo, Mane and Salah *dabs*

  9. Costa Nostra
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Looks like it’s gonna be rare for Liverpool to not score 3+ every game. Exciting times were living in....exciting times....

    1. Gruu
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Cant wait liverpool vs city this season

  10. MTPockets
      5 years, 10 months ago

      VVD & Firmino 😎

      1. Differential C (Mark)
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Same here. Still another half of football to go. Hopefully Firmino doesnt get subbed.

    • Says
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Mane's hairline is higher than giraffe pu**y

      1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Can't say I've heard that phrase before

      2. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        That's a new one

    • Dacra
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Both tap ins, could be any of them scoring.

      Lottery.

    • indiangunner
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Thank u Mane. I want my captain Firmino to score now. Will he?

    • SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Returns from all 4 of my MF's 🙂

    • Parm
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      And Salah is way down the BPS rankings 😉

    • Warby84
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Need another salah goal to knock mane off BPS plus clean sheet, went Aubameyang over mane

      1. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Currently
        Mane 25
        Robertson 23
        Milner 22

    • FPL ElasticO
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Having a great start to the season..... I didn't remember every player i own has delivered in previous season opener....... Superb!!!

      1. Gazpilicueta
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        whats your team?

    • KAPO KANE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Sanchez over Mane just for a Friday night player was a silly move in hindsight

      1. Rashers
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Same

    • Viper
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      If I had stuck with my guns and went Richarlison over Siggy (trying to be too clever) I would finally have gotten off to the quick start I've always wanted. Pool boys doing the business

    • xtina
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Nervous Salah owner, (C)Aguero-er here...

    • Baberto
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Kept on fiddling between Mane and Auba.
      Already lost on the mililovic punt. Hope this one works

    • Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      FPL is fun on days like today. ☺

    • Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Mane 25
      Robbo 23
      Milner 22
      Salah 17 😀

      1. Cofinho
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        No Keita? Wow.

    • BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Mane and Salah master race report in here:

    • F4L
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      come on West Ham, get at least 1

      1. G-Whizz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Not this...

    • Rash
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Absolutely chuffed with my picks so far with salah Mané robbo Fraser pva

      Shame I benched richarlison though.

      1. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        You can’t have it all your way

        1. Rash
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Indeed.. Josh king only let down so far

      2. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Fraser 11 is magic 🙂

      3. Pep says
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        That's an expensive substitute

        1. Rash
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Aye tried to be clever opting for ings for potential debut against former club and thinking wolves would be rock solid at the back.

    • boc610
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      can someone arrange a meeting between Salah and Baps one day? they really need to be introduced

    • FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      If Leicester hadn’t scores that late goal I’d have returns from every player so far. If VVD keeps a CS that is.

    • Pep says
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Salah 54%
      Mane 16%
      Robertson 15%

      I wonder what percentage of players own all 3 of these guys

      1. Samwise the Brave
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        I do at least

      2. Mingo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        I do! Other than Salah, Robertson was the first name in every fantasy game I play.

      3. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        About 10?

    • Bialystrzelec
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      As of now, Salah is on course to get 0 BPS.