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. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    no baps for salah

  2. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Naby Keita has arrived.

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

      Brilliant half

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

      You think he's an FPL prospect? He looks magic from what I've seen but wondering if he's better value the any of the front three.

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

        He'd only be a prospect if you were allowed 4 Liverpool players in your team

    3. Red Dagger ✪
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      He has looked amazing!

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

      😎

  3. Punty
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Wish I could have 4 or 5 Liverpoolplayers..

  4. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone watching Soton - Burnley? Anything interesting to report? How's Burnleys defence looking?

    1. Viper
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Austin starting is about as exciting as things have got

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

      Burnely better, McCarthy keeping Saints in it.

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

        How's Lennon doing?

    3. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Actually, sitting in Pub and watching both games simultaneously (I’m good in multitasking lol)...but to tell you honestly, I thought Burnley will be better Team...wasn’t the case...shaky defence but clean sheet so far...

      1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Weird. Same defenders as last year and they were rock solid back then. Lets hope the rust comes off in the second half. /Tarkowski owner

  5. Laurel and Vardy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Salah (C), Mane and Robbo here. Keep them points coming boys....

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

    Finally got them alllllllllll

  7. F4L
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    by the looks of things, everyone on here is on for 250 points+...

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

      269(-4) post baps. Any good?

      1. F4L
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        better luck next week mate 😐

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

        You should have carried forward your FT from GW38

    2. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      F**k I’m in low 50’s

  8. Bouncebackability
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    I know its only 45mins, but I think i've made the wrong call. Robbo is the better pick than VVD. I think thats the case even if Robbo misses the odd game around Champions League.

    1. Viper
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Nah I still think VVD will get 4/5 goals this season. Patience

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

        He may well do, but for every goal VVD gets, Robbo will get 2 assists

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

        Oh I think he might get the odd one too.. but excitement wise its Robertson all the way. There'll be no baps for VVD in any games either if they score 3 plus.

    2. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Wait and see lol...as you said - 45 min...

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

    People bragging about their picks- nobody cares! This site used to have interesting discussions

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

      This should help.

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

      During match time?

    3. M♤rvin
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Do you think we will ever meet aliens?

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

        Hahahah

    4. Podge
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      During matches ? Never

    5. boc610
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      did it????????????

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

      Bragging or crying about who they picked for one week. Next week could work the opposite for the players. Too many kneejerkers.

    7. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Not during matches it didnt.

    8. Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Let these bums who end below 100k overall every season have there fun 😉

    9. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Things we know so far. No Man United mids will not score as many FPL points as Mane and Salah. Arnautovic is a bit kak.

    10. Bilbao Baggins
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      If you can't enjoy it there is no point playing!

  10. boc610
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    no spurs assets needed this season

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

      Home v Fulham next

  11. Granville
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    The people who went TAA over Robertson also went Aubemeyang over Lacazette or Aguero over Mahrez or Jota over Neves. Its daft to talk about specific match ups when working within a budget.

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

      And when theres 45 mins to go

    2. Drip Doctor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      TAA has also been more involved. Fabianski doesn't make that fantastic save and people would be talking about downgrading.

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

      Great point.

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

      I went with Salah, Mane, Robbo, Auba and Mahrez....

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

        And Jota...haha

    5. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Also the BPs every five minutes.

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

      Yep, you're right. Thing is, the cut budget assets (at least in midfield) seem to be looking particularly good too. If TAA nails that spot he should be golden, despite his poor crossing in this game his set pieces will bring in points.

    7. Podge
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Exactly. I swapped robbo to vvd and over the season it will be very close

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

      Best to ignore 90% of the comments on match days 🙂

    9. Lone Wolf FPL
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      also we have gw2, gw3, gw4......

    10. All about the Mané
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      TAA with a brace second half.....heard it here first 😉

    11. twoplustwo
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Yes, helped fund Aguero, Sánchez, Bobby.

  12. red forever
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone else triple up on salah, mane and Robertson? Hell yeah!

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Pretty much everyone here by the looks of it

    2. super zlatan
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Plenty.

    3. Amsterhammer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Yep. Feeling good right now.

    4. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Yep. Reaping the pts!

  13. billysupertramp
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Alex Scott is sucha great reporter.

  14. turd ferguson
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    stormzy init

  15. Rover
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Today's been perfect so far...
    Robbo assist, Mane goal, Bednarek bench bringing in Wan-Bissaka's 12 points 🙂

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

      Hopefully Bednarek comes on!

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

        This

      2. super zlatan
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Praying Bednarek comes on.

      3. Rover
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Haha... But based on that game so far Soton could really do with bringing an attacker on instead

    2. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Oh wealllyyyyy?

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

        Oh wesssss

  16. David_23
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Why did I switch Mane to Sanchez...just why

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

      Brighton next for Sanchez....brace minimum

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

        Guess that OPTA guy can make that happen 😉

      2. Woy_is_back
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Lol United are shi te

      3. In Like Flynn.
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Better team next week.

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

      Very good question.

    3. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Went Mendy over Robby and regretting it already!

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

        I went both, I think they will be close to defensive top scorers by the end of the season.

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

    I can see either Firmino or mane subbed for Shaq so salah has every chance!

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

      Sub Salah and Mane IMO.

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

      No need for early subs. First game of the season. Bang in more let the confidence flow.

  18. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    What stats don’t show is the fact Robertson crosses are always low and hard for tap ins. Arnold makes much more crosses but are whipped and high where it is much more difficult to finish them. Robertson could become an assist monster

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

      I'm sure some stat fanatic is recording that somewhere.

    2. super zlatan
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      He will the highest defender point scorer in fpl this season.
      I’m sure of it.

    3. Amsterhammer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Yep they're the ideal crosses to score from. A lot of Pep teams work on building these crosses in to their game.

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

        Yeah Pep did plenty of those ‘Robertson’ crosses last year for Sterling to tap in

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

      If that's true over the season rather than just the last 45 minutes (which I'm willing to assume it is), then it's a very very good point.

      Also you'd have to wonder about TAA not copping onto that, or being told he needs to work on it.

  19. yakirh
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    What a gameweek, only King blanked and still got Mendy & Kun to go
    I assume most of us got great returns since the template was right on the money

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

    Imagine Liverpool vs Cardiff 😮

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

      You say that but I remember the teams they failed to beat in the League last year...

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

      0-0 game

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

    Has anyone else got double Palace CS points relaxing on their bench? Cedric had better keep a clean sheet now!

    1. lifes a pitch
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Wan Bis points making me hope Mahrez doesnt play

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

      Yep.. total of 32 points for my outfield bench

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

        That's rough. Not much help to you there, but at least it confirms that they are decent picks.

    3. Salarrivederci
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      WAN B sitting deep on bench 😉 PVA in my starting 11 with Cedric.

    4. FPLzebub
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Yep. schlupp and AWB first two subs.

    5. Skalla
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Yep Wan B and Schlupp here, played Tomkins instead but 6pts is better than nothing!

  22. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Hopefully Cedric and TAA get atleast 60 minutes 🙂

  23. R.C
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Whats the avg now?

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

      30

    2. super zlatan
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Who cares.

    3. The Legend Squad
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      33

  24. Dead Lift
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Does anyone watch the Saints? How is going on there?

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

      We have been so so bad. Burnley should be at least 1 up.

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

    So regretting Erikson over Mane...

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

      Chill, he's home v fulham next!

  26. TOBY1
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone tempted by a Firmino to Mane transfer situation...

    I'm sure Firmino will get his share of goals this season but I think i'm expecting Mane to score more.

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

      Dont do this unless you have absolutely nothing else to use your transfers on.

  27. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    I would not be surprised if Keita scores a couple of tap-ins over the next few weeks - looks like a great option at that price

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

      You just get 3 Liverpool spots tho 🙁

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        yep, not ideal … Robbo looks amazing as well

    2. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      How much is he?

  28. zizoo10
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Went Robertson/AWB on field to TAA/Shaw. Oh how genius I felt with that Shaw goal..how things have changed

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

    Robertson bossing the BAPS 😎

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Good news. That first Liverpool goal worth 13 Pts for me.

      Good old airport WiFi keeping me up to date.

  30. Skalla
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Atleast with that half my main team finally went past my bench for this round! Schlupp and Wan B gave them a good run for their money though 🙂