Dugout Discussion
9 August 2019 2602 comments
DavidMunday815 DavidMunday815
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As expected, Sadio Mané (£11.5m) has been named on the bench for Liverpool’s opening Premier League match of the season.

The Senegalese international missed all of the club’s pre-season friendly campaign and was always a doubt to be involved against Norwich.

Jurgen Klopp did not appear too fazed by not being able to include Mané in the starting XI.

As had been predicted, Divock Origi (£5.5m) starts on the left flank of the forward line in the 4-3-3 system.

“I’m happy with how it is now. It’s not about me it’s about the players. If the player aren’t available or fit they are the things we have to deal with.” – Jurgen Klopp

The Belgian features alongside Roberto Firmino (£9.5m) in a central role while Mohamed Salah (£12.5m), the winner of the Gameweek 1 captain poll, is on the right flank.

There was keen interest in Liverpool’s defence over the summer and all three key individuals find themselves in the starting XI.

Andrew Robertson (£7.0m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.0m) are on the left and right flanks of the back-four, with Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) in the middle.

Paired with the Dutchman at centre-back is Joe Gomez (£5.5m), which comes as welcome news to those invested in Alexander-Arnold.

After the Englishman replaced his compatriot around the hour mark in the Community Shield final, with Joel Matip (£5.5m) starting that match at centre-back, there had been some concern over Alexander-Arnold’s role.

However, a home match against newly-promoted opposition was clearly seen as a different prospect to Manchester City at Wembley by Klopp, who clearly favours playing the more attacking full-back in this one.

Norwich line up in the 4-2-3-1 formation that Daniel Farke was so fond of on his way to securing the Championship title last season.

There was only one change to our predicted line-up provided by team news correspondent Neale Rigg.

Todd Cantwell (£4.5m) has been handed a start on the left side of attacking midfield, alongside Marco Stiepermann (£6.0m) and Emi Buendía (£6.0m).

That means Onel Hernandez (£5.5m) taking up a spot on the bench.

As expected, Grant Hanley (£4.0m) starts at centre-back alongside Ben Godfrey (£4.5m) with Timm Klose (£4.5m) and Christoph Zimmermann (£4.5m) injured.

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Robertson, van Dijk, Gomez, Alexander-Arnold; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Fabinho; Origi, Firmino, Salah.

Substitutes: Adrian, Milner, Keita, Mané, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Shaqiri, Matip.

Norwich XI (4-2-3-1): Krul; Lewis, Godfrey, Hanley, Aarons; McLean, Trybull; Cantwell, Stiepermann, Buendía; Pukki.

Substitutes: Fahrmann, Byram, Roberts, Vrancic, Leitner, O Hernandez, Drmic

  1. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Trent is going to get dropped for Gomez

  2. panda07
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Liverpool looking ropey in defence

  3. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Pukki does look good.

    1. thepeen555
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Pukki is good. It just depends how Norwich get on in the PL but 6.5m is a great price and he was in my team

  4. thepeen555
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Maybe that’s why Hanley is 4m

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

    Pool far from solid here

  6. Make FPL Casual Again
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    No shots yet for pool ?

  7. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Liverpool on the ropes.

  8. IRBOX ⚽
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Awful defence from the Reds.. should be level here

  9. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Virg takes charge C'mon!
    Bonus imminent.

  10. sirmorbach
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Pukki essential

  11. Licky
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Robbo nearly.

  12. Hairy Potter
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Liverpool's midfield not screening the defence much tonight.

  13. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Robbo close

  14. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Norwich the better team here for sure

  15. Maddi Son
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    I'd feel good if I didn't have double Liverpool defence right now.

  16. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    126 people have transferred Mane out... Hahaha

  17. Clintymints
    • 16 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    That Trent and Gomez combo is so defensively bad

    I’ve Trent and like the dread balls but he’s Gona be targeted every time

    Safer Robertson might be worth it

    1. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      This is why Gomez might play a few games at RB and Matip brought in at CB.

      1. Clintymints
        • 16 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        I just remember last season regretting not making the move for Robertson at the end

        Worrying for Trent after this so far

  18. Poseidon.
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    TAA -> Robbo for free?

    1. KLOPPTOMANIA
      • 16 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Bit early?

  19. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Allison isn't filling me with confidence

    1. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Ederson better than Alisson IMO. Even if Brazil think different.

  20. Ask Yourself
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Salah is the worst player on the pitch so far

    1. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Lol

    2. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      obviously .................

  21. gaurava1216
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    pukki is a good player.... watchlist

    1. Amey
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Definitely !!

    2. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      When fixtures improve... definitely.

  22. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Greedy Mo.

  23. KLOPPTOMANIA
    • 16 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Robbo -bp

  24. Amey
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Salah -bps 😀

  25. Licky
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Salah holding onto the ball for too long. Surprise, surprise!

  26. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Unbelievable that Norwich only spent 1.1m in the window. It’s like they are going to take the money and run

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Parachute party, worse case.

    2. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Personally think it is the way to do it, especially with financial fair play. Burnley and Stoke (under Pulis) showed how to do it.

    3. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Crazy, they look a CB and a MF away from mid table...

  27. Valar(Keith)
    • 16 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    I'm going to forget I ever even thought of Robinson to gomez.. Robinson is just unbelievable

    1. Valar(Keith)
      • 16 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Robertson.. Jeez

  28. OPTA FPL
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Pukki looks very dangerous

    1. Valar(Keith)
      • 16 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      It's TAA who's making him look dangerous. Pukki is fantastic though

  29. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Liverpool's kit looks like they are wareing leg wamers,very retro.

    It is like watching a scene from the movie Flashdance.

  30. sirmorbach
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    I'm ditching Salah and getting Pukki as we speak

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Too early.