Scout Notes

Mane injury latest as Firmino claims Double Gameweek advantage

Wolves 1-2 Liverpool

Goals: Raúl Jiménez (£7.5m) | Jordan Henderson (£5.4m), Roberto Firmino (£9.5m)

Assists: Adama Traoré (£5.7m) | Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.6m), Henderson

Bonus Points: J Henderson x3, Jiménez x2, Firmino x1

Liverpool’s trip to Wolves on Thursday, January 23, 2020, will almost certainly go down in Fantasy Premier League folklore for all the wrong reasons.

It was the night that Sadio Mané (£12.5m), backed by 270,144 for the Triple Captaincy, went off injured just 32 minutes into the first match of Double Gameweek 24.

No Fantasy asset was backed by more for the enhanced armband but that did not stop him from coming off with a potential hamstring problem and just one point to his name.

Naturally, Mané’s owners and captaincy backers will now be sweating on his fitness between now and next week’s trip to West Ham, which concludes the Double Gameweek.

The word from the Liverpool bench at half-time was that Mané notified the physios that he may have a “hamstring injury”. The indication is the issue is not too serious as he was able to walk off the pitch and get to the Liverpool changing room unaided. While his substitution was considered “precautionary” at first, Jurgen Klopp confirmed at full-time that his player had suffered a “muscle tweak” and suggested that he “probably” wouldn’t be available to prepare Liverpool’s next three games.

Thankfully, we may get further updates on Mané in the aftermath of Sunday’s FA Cup meeting with Shrewsbury as well as in the pre-match press conference ahead of next Wednesday’s trip to West Ham.

Even though his backers will be understandably upset by his curtailed outing at Molineux, there was, to some extent, a silver lining in the fact that Mohamed Salah (£12.4m), handed the Triple Captain chip by 220,121 Fantasy managers, also blanked and did not receive any clean sheet bonus.

In truth, the Egyptian really should have scored at Molineux wasting some chances and drawing excellent saves from Rui Patrício (£5.1m) at others. Arguably, Salah was also a bit selfish, taking on some shots when he should really have passed to a colleague.

As is often the case with Double Gameweeks, it was the unexpected man who finished the first match as top-scorer. Jordan Henderson (£5.4m) scored the opening goal and assisted the winner, bagged by Roberto Firmino (£9.5m), who extended his lead at the top of the goal charts for Liverpool players in away fixtures.

Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.6m) got himself an assist to prove the highest-scoring Liverpool defender on the night as the clean sheet was lost and Andrew Robertson (£7.0m) was booked.

However, it was Wolves that asked the first question of the evening as Adama Traoré (£5.7m) won the ball in the middle of the park and sprayed it out to Jonny (£5.4m).

The left-back pushed into some space vacated by Alexander-Arnold and Traoré joined him to double-up on Gomez. Jonny was then able to get beyond the centre-back and play a ball into the box, which was cut out by Henderson.

Less than a minute later, Wolves were awarded a free-kick on the left-hand side which Joao Moutinho (£5.4m) fizzed across the face of the goal, although, inexplicably nobody was able to get a touch on it. Had they done so, the ball surely would have ended up back in the net. In the end, it was a combination of Alexander-Arnold and Firmino who scrambled the ball clear.

Despite that spirited start from the hosts, they were 1-0 down in the eighth minute.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (£6.2m) slid Firmino into some space in the centre, who moved it on to Salah. He was then taken down by Coady, resulting in a Liverpool free-kick.

The Egyptian and Alexander-Arnold stood over and, in spite of an ominous run-up, the latter saw his effort headed over by Conor Coady (£5.0m).

That wouldn’t stop the right-back notching his 14th attacking return of the season. He was able to pick out Henderson from the resulting corner, who nodded cooly beyond Patrício.

There were suggestions that the ball had brushed Mané’s head on the way through but the official finding was that it did not touch the winger.

He went close to an assist again in the 17th minute when he played a cross-field ball around the Wolves back-three to Salah, who had to drag back and inside onto his left foot to get a shot off, which was well blocked by Coady.

Oxlade-Chamberlain then played a lovely chipped through ball out to a free Mané out on the left, but he was quickly closed down by a recovering Dendoncker, who won the ball by kicking it against the Liverpool man’s arm.

It was at this point that Mané was taken off and replaced by recent new signing Takumi Minamino (£6.5m). Naturally, such a frustrating event for Liverpool saw the game lose a bit of pace and urgency for the next 10 minutes or so.

Wolves were the first to reinject some life into the game as Traoré dropped deep to create opportunities again, the first putting Doherty into space before Jiménez went through the middle and had a fierce effort blocked by van Dijk.

In first-half stoppage time, Salah went on a mazy run through the heart of the Wolves defence and managed to get enough space on his left to unleash a shot on goal, blocked by Matt Doherty (£6.1m).

Salah picked up where he left off in the second half, catching Traoré in possession and smashing a powerful left-footed shot across the Wolves goal, stopped only by a sprawling Patrício save.

Naturally, the start to the second period stretched the game which played right into the hands of Wolves and the pace of Traoré.

He began to find more space down the right-hand side of Wolves’ attack and, in textbook fashion, his 51st-minute inch-perfect cross into the box, found Raúl Jiménez (£7.5m) in space, who leapt up to place a glancing header beyond Alisson (£6.1m).

Such a morale-boosting goal thoroughly put the wind into Traoré’s sails. For a relatively prolonged spell, Traoré began completely terrorising Liverpool down his side, with Robertson eventually having to bring him down on the edge of the box, picking up a yellow card in the process.

Traoré almost scored a bit later, finding space to blast across goal, forcing a vital save from Alisson.

Liverpool struggled to respond to this shift in the game, perhaps all too aware of the danger of being caught out on the counter-attack by Traoré. Even after the shackles were put back on Traoré to some extent, they were more reticent moving forward.

It took until the 60th minute for their next real chance, which fell to Minamino after a cross from Salah. His effort was blocked, the rebound falling to Firmino, who could only drive the ball low towards an already floored Patrício for a routine recovery by the goalkeeper.

Wolves kept up the pressure with Jiménez played in by Traoré in the 67th minute, shooting from a wide-angle and drawing a save from Alisson’s face.

However, Liverpool still managed to dig out a victory from this tough position.

Henderson played Salah in for another chance just short of the 70th minute and the Egyptian, as ever, worked himself into a position where he could smash it with his left foot. This effort ended just wide, the latest that will have left his Triple Captainers with their head in their hands.

As predicted as a possibility in the build-up to the Double Gameweek, it was away-day specialist Firmino who won the tie in the end.

He had two glorious chances in the closing stages, the first the Brazilian missed and the second buried.

He was played through one-on-one with the goalkeeper in the 81st minute and fired a low effort at goal, when he arguably should have gone for the chip – Patrício making a good stop with his legs.

But as stoppage time approached, Firmino found himself in space once again, played through by Henderson and rifled his latest effort into the top corner for all three points.

It may well be half-time in the Double Gameweek, but as things stand, those who went with either Firmino or Alexander-Arnold currently have the advantage in the Triple Captaincy debate.

Wolves XI: Patrício; Saïss, Coady, Dendoncker; Jonny, Neves, Moutinho (Gibbs-White 87′), Doherty; Neto (D Jota 77′), Jiménez, Traoré.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Robertson, van Dijk, Gomez, Alexander-Arnold; J Henderson, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Fabinho 70′); Mané (Minamino 32′), Firmino, Salah (Origi 85′).

1,431 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Traore or Jimenez on a WC?

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Probably both

    2. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Son

    3. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Both for sure

  2. The Man Pastore
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Pick one :

    A) Aguero + Wood
    B) Aguero + DCL
    C) Auba + Jimenez

    1. JJeyy
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Agero best in the game right now, and in form

  3. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Selling Jimenez last week now looking pretty effing stupid.

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Relaxed we all make mistakes, I benched him for the 13 pointer vs Southampton

      1. beric
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Why on earth

        1. FPL Pillars
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Stubborn. Had McCarthy in goal, wanted to play Cantwell lol

      2. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I did that after capping him the previous 2 weeks for 2 blanks

        1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Sold not benched

  4. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Looks like Mane out for weat ham at least

  5. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Vardy, Mane & Tammy all crocked in the same gameweek

    1. Dannyb
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Have all, -4 incoming.

    2. Blue&White85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Have all and Richarlison! Unbelievable!

  6. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Jordan Henderson has been immense for Liverpool all season

    Early contender for PFA player of the year

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Agreed. It's between him TAA, Mané and VVD for me.

      1. Collie01
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        And KdB

        1. Syd.
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          KDB won't get a look in with the Liverpool players this season

    2. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Been immense

    3. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Agreed

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

    Plenty of professionals will be Wildcarding this GW...

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      professionals wait until DGW

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      There are no professionals.

  8. WVA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Had my TC on Firmino, moved it to TAA, finalised on Mane, what are the odds

    1. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Of course that's what happened

    2. Monkey Hanger
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Baaaaa

    3. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      1 in 3

  9. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Warning! I’m getting Aguero next i.e. his purple patch is 100% guaranteed over.

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Noted, will avoid.

    2. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      So how in gods name does that benefit you?

      1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        It doesn’t. I’m the reversed King Midas of FPL and apparently also a masochist because I keep playing this effing game.

        1. HashAttack
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          that doesn't work with the high cost players

          I used my reverse Midas touch to bring in Ings - I saved 2m and killed off my rivals main points source

  10. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    In 2020 I have been hit with Fabianski, Vardy and Mane injuries.

    This is getting silly now

    Buy still holding the WC, I won't break!

    1. Crabwalk
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      You’re lucky. I’ve had all of them plus Sarr and Rashford!

  11. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    So... Pope sellers unite?

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      My rival played Ryan with Pope benched both times 🙂

      1. My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Probably the correct call. But im reaping the rewards of 1 playing keeper

        1. FPL Pillars
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Yes I am the same, hate having two and picking the wrong one. The best returns generally has be vs the “harder” teams

    2. Monkey Hanger
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Got more pts from Pope than my three Pool combined.

  12. TAT
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    With Mané potentially out; WC this?

    Foster
    Lundstram - TAA - Söyüncü
    Salah - Mané - KDB - Doucouré
    Jiménez - DCL - Vardy
    (McGovern - Saka - Kelly - Rico)

    1. AzzaroMax99
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      No. Two transfers will do the job.

      1. TAT
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Only have the one FT, and have taken hits two GW's in a row…

        1. AzzaroMax99
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Sell Vardy tonight and wait with Mane. That is what I am about to do.

          1. TAT
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Will you bench or sell Mané, you think?

            As far as Vardy goes, I can only stretch to Auba, but I don't like the look of Arsenal these days.

            1. Bushwhacker
              • 4 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              I've gone Vardy > Auba . . . . it's that or Jimi if you don't have him. Bench Mane, don't think it'll be a long layoff.

              1. TAT
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 2 months ago

                Do have Jimi (about the only thing that's provided me points this GW). I'll have to play Rico if I bench Mané though; that'll be 2 points tops.

        2. Volley127
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Another one is better than a WC, by far

          1. TAT
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Is it though? I see so many issues in that team.

            1. Volley127
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Vardy potential issue. And of course Mane.

              Rest looks fine, enough to manage over the next few weeks and get rid of deadwood. Besides one of Mane/Vardy may even be keepable.

              1. TAT
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 2 months ago

                Just did Vardy > Auba. I don't like that move, but I need to do something to climb back in the rankings – especially in one of the mini leagues I'm in, where no-one has him.

              2. TAT
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 2 months ago

                That being said, WC does looks the more tempting option.

  13. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Is anyone planning a WC? I own Vardy, Mane, Rico, Kelly, Willems, Martial... my team is so ugly.

    1. Dannyb
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I would in that position

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      What's wrong with Rico?!

    3. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Tough

    4. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah. Own most of those too. Going to leave it until GW26 though as I've got Haller, Grealish and DCL this week. All gone next week.

  14. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Imagine TC’ing injury prone Mane.

    😛

    1. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      And then?

      1. TheSteel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Nothing 🙁

  15. Do I Not Like Orange
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    If Mane injury is short-term (i.e no more than West Ham & maybe 1 more) I see no sense in getting rid before that run of fixtures. Certainly for those of us with value tied up in him anyway.

    1. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Please explain the benefit of value tied-up? Not dissing, I need to understand

    2. teneighty
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      That's sensible. But many also have Vardy and that means a lot of money on the bench if he is out as well.

  16. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Help me choose:

    a) Vardy to Auba
    b) Vardy to Jimmy
    c) Vardy+Mane to Auba+Perez (-4)

  17. Gnu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    It'll be a meltdown on here tonight.

    My silver lining is that I didn't TC. 🙂

    *logs off*

  18. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Activated WC.

    Is Auba and Aguero too much?

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Depends if Auba moves to Barcelona

    2. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      A bit concerned with gw28 blank

      Mci v Ars would mean Aguero, Auba and KDB out

      Other blank match should be one of
      Nor v Lei - Cantwell out
      or
      Avl v Shu - Hendo, Lund and Fleck out

  19. DavidMunday815
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Just a quick one - I published this match report before Klopp had done his post-match press conference(s). Have updated the article with his quotes on Mané now!

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      One thing for sure is he won't be playing against West Ham

  20. Shatner's Bassoon
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    FPL is grim as all hell at the moment.

  21. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Lost with my team now, season is getting worse and worse. Suggestions with 1FT 0.5itb

    Guiata button
    Taa Lund soy Cathcart kelly
    Salah mane kdb moura dendo
    Vardy ings dcl

    1. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Wait and wait some more mate. Who was yer cap?

      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Salah TC, sitting at 580k and last two transfers have been jimi to ings then rico to cathcart! Lost over 20 points with just those 2 moves

  22. jia you
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    42 with 1pt captain, not great, Haller(donkey) and Cresswell(dark horse) to save my GW 😉

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      If anything Cresswell could hinder your points upcomnig

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I've the glimmer of hope to latch onto... that's what really matters in this game 😉

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Good score, humble brag.

  23. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Most requested feature for next season: delete team

    1. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      haha, needs a responsible FPL feature like on gambling sites!

  24. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Not had a captain return since a KDB assist in GW19

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      That is rough

      1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        2 Jimmys 2 Mo and another KDB for jack

  25. HashAttack
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Late season TC - hindsight vote a) or b)

    a) Wont be any good as the league will be over
    b) Great as you want to TC attackers and forwards are fighting for the golden boot

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Won't matter when Danny Ings has already run away with it.

  26. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    If Salah hauls in the next game then this game is beyond cruel

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      He won’t

    2. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      He will and it is

    3. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Not from the bench

  27. Zilla
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Grealish: 7G, 6A; 107 points (14 BPS)
    Traore: 4G, 7A, 100 points (14 BPS)

    1. AzzaroMax99
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Grealish is 1 mil cheaper.

      1. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Exactly the opposite

      2. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Wrong way around.

    2. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Who asked?

    3. Marty McFly
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Can also be written as:
      ‘wolves have kept 5 more clean sheets than Aston Villa’

  28. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Well done to those who saved their TC chip.

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      West Ham was the better fixtures and that’s still to come

    2. luk46
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Used it on Trent, think its fine 🙂

    3. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Spoken before a full weeks rest then West Ham

    4. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Not over yet.

    5. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      GW isn't over

  29. schwing
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    .3m short of Mané > Salah FFS

  30. Ohh1454
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts on this possible wildcard team ?
    Mccarthy (button)
    Taa Vvd Lund (lascelles Williams)
    Salah Kdb Traoré Grealish (Dendoncker)
    Auba Aguero Ings