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

    Wow, so Sterling starts and KDB benched. The guy with the rumours was wrong

    Mendy, Mahrez, Bilva, Aguero all start.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Surprised that pinch of salt wasn't a clue.

  2. Football Heaven
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    I could’ve had 34 from 3 defenders if I started AWB. hindsight is a wonderful thing

  3. TAT
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    GUENDOUZI STARTS!

  4. GOTHAM City F.C.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    So when would Leno become essential?

  5. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    That’s why Laca was a poor pick.

    1. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Cpt Heinsight

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Never nailed on...

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

          He'll be on as a sub and well capable of scoring.

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

            Sure but thats not ideally what we're looking for when selecting players. We all want as many minutes as possible, especially for that price tag.

  6. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    No Leno or Lacazette

  7. Zilla
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Feels so wrong not being happy with my players starting, specially from City! Oh well

  8. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    if things stay as they are im on 59 after bonus with Aguero Mendy B.Silva left to play, not great

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Shut up

    2. F4L
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      *facepalm*

    3. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Maybe just quit

    4. Livinginapool - Top 100 Any…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I really don't understand all these false brags. What do you expect from them?

    5. CostaCoffee
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Why do we not have a downvote option

    6. Ross From Friends
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      shut your hole!

  9. Bialystrzelec
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Swithing from BSilva to Keita after first one gets benched seem as a wise move.

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

      Rambo too

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

        Who?

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

          Ramsey

  10. Kellz86
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone know why the DRAFT pts take so long to update? They still haven't added Mane's 2nd

  11. Chenku╰☆╮
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    So no Leno thank God I avoided him

  12. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Laca 😆 as expected!

  13. Guy Demel
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Need KDB and Sane cameos to stop these plentiful bench points coming in.

  14. Ginkapo FPL
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    lol, that Welbeck at LB story and he isnt even on the bench

    1. 420king
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Injured.

      1. Toby Lerone
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        shock

  15. Messsiaah
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Sane benched

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

    Guendouzi starting is interesting

    1. Frozen Mukluks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Very good, young player...at least from what we in preseason.

  17. MFC86
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Damn no AWB points for me

  18. King Klopp
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Damn. Sané not starting

  19. Red Dagger ✪
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Arsenal line up?

    1. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Lol

    2. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Sort by sticky

  20. Costa Nostra
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    As pointed out earlier going Laca over Auba not the brightest move.

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

      Wait until the end of the game and season.....

  21. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    I always have a little heart attack when I'm about to read Man City line up...

    1. Britt Shickhouse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Same

  22. jam
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    29 points on the bench. Wouldn't have considered BB on week one but actually, maybe there's some logic to it.

    1. Toby Lerone
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      hindsight is a wonderful thing though. could always do damage in the dgw

      1. jam
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Indeed.
        The DGW hype hasn't really paid off for a while tho.

  23. F4L
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Rambo will be gold if Arsenal line up like this most weeks

    1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah worth monitoring

  24. willl
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Random name where you at?

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

    Sane looool oh jesus!

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

      your source was wrong 😉

  26. WVA
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    I don't have Laca but he should be starting, what has he got to do. Manager is a cat!

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

    Can Laca cover Aubameyang?

    I swear an FPL expert wrote an article about how he could.

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

      He could come off the bench and outscore Auba

  28. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    So I see Pep doesnt need Sane with Mendy is in the team

    1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      The Sane/Mendy issue is only relevant with two strikers. Insert Sane for Sterling and it's the same set up, with both playing.

  29. Sif
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Hart, good save. Looks at home, best defense he's had in front of him for a while.

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

      Old school defence. Keeper deals with his business defence deals with theirs. Perfect match.

  30. Stoic
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Have Leno and Hamer :/

    1. The Wise Owl
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Oh dear