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. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Arnie subbed.....

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

    Arnie injures? Or tactical?

    1. Cofinho
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Tactical

    2. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Limping off.

      1. Eddie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Might just be damaged pride, but definitely in discomfort.

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

      The epitomy of FFS summed up in the two above answers 😀

      1. Eddie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Ha, didn't see it but commentators said he had pulled up earlier. But was definitely walking gingerly as he stepped down into the dug out. I've got him and am concerned.

  3. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    According to fantasy fix I have all three liverpool players who got bonus points.
    Can't ask for more then that.

  4. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Arnie limping?

  5. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Arnie off

  6. My Name Is Pepu
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Arnie

    Same old story

  7. DLL18
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    What's worse being 3 goals down or a shot to the nuts?

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Having Cedric in your team

  8. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Mark benched Arnie. Mark knows.

    1. Guy Demel
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Which one of his players is getting a dodgy assist today?

    2. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      His team is awful but you know he's going to end up there

  9. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    But but.. guys... I thought Arnie was fixture proof?

    1. Bleach †
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Get a grip, mate

    2. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      strange...definitely thought he'd score 38 goals this season

    3. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      😉

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

    Seeya Arnie

  11. jaguar shark
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Knee jerk eriksen to mane??

    1. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Do you base all your transfers on 60 mins of football?

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

        With only 60 mins available...yes?

  12. R.C
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    79 with Auba and Mendy to go

    AWB on bench with 12 though...

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

      Than you for that important update, was just wondering

    2. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Average

    3. Nanoelektronicar
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      79 post baps, Aguero, Mahrez and Mendy to go. That's a brag.

  13. super zlatan
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Arnie > zaha on the cards

    1. Licky
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      For sure.

  14. Dr Van Nostrand
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Clueless announcers saying Milner is 1st choice. Fabinho is top class he'll be 1st choice. Didn't start today b/c he's not fully fit after an injury

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

      Over Wijnaldum?

      1. Dr Van Nostrand
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Yep

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Allison
      Clyne Lovren VVD Robertson
      Keita Henderson Fabinho
      Salah Firmino Mane

  15. MGD
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Why Cedric off??

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

      Lack of match fitness I think

      1. MGD
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers. AWB points staring from the bench..

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

          Same

  16. TheTinman
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    1 more save please McArthy

  17. Guy Demel
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Firminho playing that frustrating very deep and wide Harry Kane role.... and now off.

  18. super zlatan
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Bobby off

  19. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    But Arnie is fixtures proof

  20. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Firmino sub incoming

  21. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Firmino off
    Henderson on

  22. 420king
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Firmino off.

  23. Bielsa's Bucket
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Unlucky from Arnie, Liverpool to just to good. Definitely not fixture proof in the slightest.

    1. Coaly
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      He is

    2. Nabs Kebabs
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      the concept of fixture proof never made any sense to me anyway.

    3. Bielsa's Bucket
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      I'm sure members article will shed light on how much or little impact he had in this game.

  24. The Enlightener
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Firmino out. Sigh.....

  25. Coaly
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Cedric 4 mins from a cleanie 🙁

    1. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      That is unlucky.

  26. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Bobby ffs

  27. Helia
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Bobby off

  28. sozopol
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Jota to richsrlison a no brainer? Or wait another week

    1. TAT
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Wondering about the same thing…

  29. My Name Is Pepu
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Bobby off, Hendo on

    More goals for Sadio please 🙂

  30. SirStevieG
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    FIRMINO OFF WHY???

    1. *sigh*
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Because he isn’t fixture proof?