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. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Shaqiri is a midget

    1. Chenku╰☆╮
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      A well built one..

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

      Its shocking when seen live.

    3. Bada Bing
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      He's a muscle hamster.

    4. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      A well defined cube.

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

    queuing the sterling transfers now!

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

    Bemba spotted!

  4. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Pretty set on Robertson 11 point return 2nd in BPS to Van Dijk

  5. Guy Demel
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    That kid should be wrestled to the ground and tasered.

    1. The Enlightener
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Sure there are plenty who say, awwww, he's just a kid. I say give'em the treatment!

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

    VVD is obviously a quality option but Robbo is just so so good. Probably my favourite PL player.

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

    Well the one positive as a KdB owner is that he'll probably be fit for Huddersfield. Looking forward to next GW.

    1. ★Kuntheman★
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      He’s coming on for sure, wouldn’t put it past him to have an impact today too

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

    Shaqiri on
    Mane off

    1. thepeen555
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      That’s good happy with the input

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

    Mane fail 🙁

    Mark was right, Shaq will ruin Mane's minutes.

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

      Mark knows.

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

      £3.5m less than Salah is worth it though

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

      Have you got a link to his team maybe? Cheers.

    4. thepeen555
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      He keeps playing like that then I doubt he will get much time on it (shaq)

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

    Shaqiri looks happy just to get on the pitch

  11. The Enlightener
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Wtf is that kid doing on field?

    1. trikster102
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      lolz

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

      Getting a pic with the King!

  12. R.C
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    few mistakes I made this GW

    should've started AWB ahead of Arnie
    and picked McCarthy over Patricio

    Would've seen 100+ pts

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

      K

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

      Next

    3. GREEN IS GOOD
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Not sure those are mistakes.

    4. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      This will be an unpopular post

  13. Lukakwho
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    mane off

    1. Lukakwho
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      i can breathe

  14. Viprin
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Mane (C) turned out well

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

    Why did I go firmino and Moura over mane and Arny, fool

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

    Mane CS points locked 😎

  17. Richd
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Cya mane you nugget

  18. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Gudmundsson fail, considering the way this GW has gone.

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

    Klopp could easily make Shaqiri into the better player he's capable of becoming.Fantastic move for him.

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

    Cube

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

    Anyone got the latest BAPS? Site won;t load for it

    1. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      3 - Mané (55)
      2 - Robertson (40)
      1 - van Dijk (29)

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

    What did Mo say to the kid?

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

      Captain Mane.

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

        😆

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

        Nice

    2. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      "watch out for Mark Noble...he doesn't take kindly to pitch invasions" 😉

  23. Richd
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Look at manes hair. If he wasn’t a footballer he’d work in Roosters or KFC.

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

    Hart save point.

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

    Mane bandwagon is on, all aboard!

  26. Pulp Minion
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Mane's second goal offside, Liverpool getting all the luck this season?

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

      Yes. This entire season it seems

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

      Yawn

    3. Bada Bing
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      They should, after last season when they were robbed 12 points or something. Swings and roundabouts, eh?

  27. Rafiki
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Lol Mane is quick and has blistering pace 🙂

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

      He's quick, he's fast, and he's got pace

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

    Fpl really should charge a quid per team for the season and get some decent servers and a decent first prize

    1. The Wise Owl
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      They get the money from sponsors

    2. The Enlightener
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      +8 million!

    3. Toby Lerone
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      fine for me. your dial up con maybe?

  29. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Will Lacazette come on as a sub?
    Iaf he does not I will get the wan-bisaka points.
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DkZ34BCW4AA-coS.jpg

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

      very likely he will

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

      Almost certainly

    3. Livinginapool - Top 100 Any…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Probably if they're chasing the game

      1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        I better hope for a 0-0 I suppose!

  30. Test Eagles
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Kante goal an anomaly or does it seem he’s further forward this year? He or Jorginho?

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

      He’s further up

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

      Definitely Kante out of those two. Kante has a more advanced role under Sarri

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

      He's further up but trust me he can't actually shoot. Be rare to see goals from him.