Dugout Discussion

Mane, Fabinho and Alisson return for Liverpool as Guardiola benches Jesus

The most-anticipated Premier League fixture of the weekend, and perhaps the calendar year so far, sees reigning champions Liverpool take on current league leaders Manchester City.

Kick-off at Anfield is at 16:30 GMT.

A win for City would take them ten points clear of Jurgen Klopp’s side, with the blue half of Manchester also having a game in hand to play on top of that.

Klopp has brought back three of his big guns from illness and injury for this fixture, with Sadio Mane, Alisson and Fabinho returning to the starting XI.

Fabinho will be deployed alongside Jordan Henderson at centre-half, with the Liverpool boss resisting the urge to hand a first start to new recruits Ozan Kabak or Ben Davies – the latter of whom doesn’t even make the matchday squad.

Along with the three returning players above, Curtis Jones is recalled to the hosts’ line-up.

Xherdan Shaqiri, James Milner, Nat Phillips and Caoimhin Kelleher are the men to make way.

Guardiola has made two changes to his City line-up as Oleksandr Zinchenko and Phil Foden start in place of the benched Aymeric Laporte and Gabriel Jesus.

The form book points to City in this fixture, with the visitors on a nine-match winning run in the top flight.

Guardiola’s troops have recorded 11 shut-outs in their last 13 matches, too.

Liverpool have won only two of their last eight Premier League games, meanwhile, with many of their key FPL assets in poor form.

Andrew Robertson is on his longest barren run without an attacking return since his debut season at Anfield, while Mohamed Salah – who is still the division’s top goalscorer, lest we forget – hasn’t found the net on Merseyside since Gameweek 13.


Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Henderson, Robertson, Thiago, Wijnaldum, Jones, Salah, Firmino, Mane.

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Joao Cancelo, Stones, Dias, Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Gundogan, Mahrez, Sterling, Foden.

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2,350 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Salah penalty miss and Cancelo red card to finish me off.

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      NOOOOO

    2. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Takes all sorts

  2. Reggie Nainggolan
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I put DCL on the bench for you Gundogan and you repay me with that ffs. Knew I should've gone the other way round

    What's wrong with city when it comes to pens vs liverpool

    1. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Alisson says hi

  3. GROBARI
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Mahrez really proud of this penalty miss by GunDOGan

    1. aleksaa2
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Mu PAS mater

      1. GROBARI
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Srecom ja sam ga na klupu ostavio

  4. Hect.OR 98th
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I've been about 100 points off my ML league since October. Every week I make up ground on a few of the top 6 but lose it to the others. I've finally got some momentum and got it down to 90 and now none of the top 6 have Gundogan and all have Justin (who I don't have). I have won this league for the last five seasons. Such a hard season to make any ground up.

    1. camarozz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Exactly same my self, winner of it 4 times in a row and now over 120 pts behind and been there for at least 6 wks same position..

      One assist frm my captain last 7 wks has done it for me...

      1. Hect.OR 98th
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        It's still winnable I think. I was over 120 points behind someone a couple of years ago at this stage, and won the league by over 60 points. The trouble is I have half a dozen above me this time, so I need all of them to slip up and there don't seem to be enough differentials available.

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'm having probiotic porridge with chocolate milk for breakfast.

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

      Because the template picks keep performing. The only way to make up ground recently is (c) picks.

      The DGWs may change that. People seem to think certain players are nailed. I don't think that is true and we will see some odd results as well as players being benched. Some of these teams will have 10 fixtures in 21 days etc.

    4. Livinginapool - Top 100 Any…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Been the same for me. Even in minileagues I've never really considered competition, I'm 100 points behind and really struggling to make up ground.

      This season is what it is. Part of a learning curve, I guess.

    5. Postman Ty
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Son and Kane carried me into the top 10k, and ironically Son (despite the goal today) has dragged me right back out after a hit to get him back in and massive benched points.

      Somehow my team has also perfectly dovetailed Chelsea's form this season: They started well and my team was bad, they took a nose dive and my team shot way up, now they're playing good again and I'm on red arrows. This regardless of having/not having Chelsea players.

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Still have all my chips tho. One of only a few with them all, some have none.
        But they wat this season is going it will be underwhelming I'm sure.

        1. Postman Ty
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          That could be huge. You're right though a lot of the time they're quite disappointing. It should gain you some good ground though.

        2. Hect.OR 98th
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Yes, that's my advantage. Have all my chips where most above me have spent theirs. I need squads to be really shaken up with injuries, isolation, etc, and fixtures to be cancelled here and there, to make the most of them.

          Basically, I need more covid chaos to boost my FPL chances. I think I'd rather lose this year.

  5. Baron Penguin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Ha ha. Benched Dias for Gundogan last minute because of penalties.

  6. Shultan
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Lets see who has most points bench?
    20 points so far & dias still playing

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Too scare to look but probably around that yes

    2. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      16 with Stones going. Accompanied by a lush 0 and -1 in my actual XI

    3. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Stones gets CS then it's 33 for me: Martinez Coufal DCL Stones. I mentioned here I need a new BB chip at the start of the week!

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        My BB GW19 27 pts

    4. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      18 here
      More than my bench boost 🙁

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

      22

    6. Postman Ty
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      This sounds absurd but I have DCL (12), Stones, and Robertson benched. Expect Stones to come in for Chilwell. No keeper.

    7. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Martinez, DCL, Targett and Lowton for me so 30 here

    8. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I had 43 in one week last season 🙁

    9. Max City
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Martinez, Watkins, Coufal, Dallas here: 24 points

    10. Herman Toothrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Well after selling Kane for Bamford -4

      I benched Martinez, DCL, Targett and Stones.

      Started Gundo and captained Antonio

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        We have a winner 🙂

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

    The Sky narrative of Liverpool still being in a title race or then even being a race is getting ridiculous.

    1. Nanoelektronicar
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      The hype must go on. Even if they win here, Liverpool might gain some momentum, but it's too late unfortunately.

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

      They still are in the title race. Win today vs Man City and then it will get interesting. Man City will feel the pain soon. Those FA Cup ties, CL ties, EFL Cup final will catch up with them eventually. You can't rely on Man Utd, Everton, Leicester, West Ham to keep getting good results.

      1. Postman Ty
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Eventually they will also actually have a striker and KDB.

        1. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Will they? I have been hearing Aguero is close to fitness for 3 months.

          1. Postman Ty
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            That's fair, and KDB has been know to be a week away for months at a time. A few seasons ago he screwed me three times on the trot - I don't rush into injury returns anymore.

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

        City have twice the squad of anyone else ; its a given.

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

      We don’t have the squad to compete with City even if we win today. They’re just trying to keep it interesting; you could hand City the title today.

  8. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you rather lose Antonio or Watkins to get DCL in for the DGW?

    Don’t fancy captaining Gundowaste anymore...

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Antonio

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers both - why’s that?

        Certainly like his fixtures better, and have more value stored in him

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

          You know the reason will say Antonio is because he blanked this GW.

          So much recency bias. Antonio the superior option stats-wise.

          Brighton have been decent lately

        2. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Villa will probably have a double in GW26. Meanwhile, Antonio will face Tottenham and Man city.

    2. 2999 - Lady of Legend
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Lose Ant.

    3. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Antonio

    4. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I was just about to ask this, Antonio has the fixture but Watkins is on a nice run of goals

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

      Injury news on Ant? Wat has DGWs to try and hit a barn door

  9. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Don't think Cancelo will be troubling the bonus pts. 1bps so far. Lol.

  10. Cruyff Turn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Salah, Gundogan in my 11, Mane coming in off the bench, Cancelo and Dias benched.

    0-0 will be horrible.

  11. CABAYE4
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any chance of a decent game between the big teams?

    All the “title deciders” on a Sunday afternoon have been v dull and cagey.

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Very much so

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

      Not until later in the season when it really matters.

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

      Depends on your definition of a decent game. This is one unless you just go by goalfests.

  12. Postman Ty
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    All I need to top this week off is a 2 minute cameo from Chilwell to block this incoming City clean sheet.

  13. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    People on here calling Thiago useless, but he managed to kick Gundogans calf in the second minute causing a slight spasm that resulted his foot to be weak enough to not have the perfect balance when taking the penalty.

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      He's not useless. But he isn't in the mould of the usual Liverpool midfielder who is super fit, a good tackler, not necessarily the most creative and plays simple passes.

      1. Joey Tribbiani
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        He tries to make simple passes look amazing passes

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

      He’s a fanastic holding midfielder ... but he needs Hendo alongside him.

  14. Random Name
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    If you don't have the pentad of Martinez, Justin, Son, Bruno and DCL then stop complaining about a bad gwk because it's your own fault

  15. Party time
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Unbelievable

      1. tiger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I believe you

    • Ha.
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Sometimes laughing at me in bench

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Ha, Ha.

    • Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Remember to judge the decision, not the outcome.

      You’ll only drive yourself mad, accept that luck plays a part.

      Starting Gundo made sense, he got a pen, great. You can’t control the outcome of the pen.

      1. Utopsis
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Too logical for the denizens on here mate

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

        I'm eye-twitching at the moment but not blowing a gasket because every decision made sense on paper.

        Onto the DGW 😆

    • Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      1 penalty miss, 1 red card.

      Just need an own goal now.

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Step forward, Dallas...

    • Gandalf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      The Gundo penalty miss one thing, but the TAA/Robertson points if they get a clean sheet on top of that would be very annoying..

    • jammie26
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Benched watkins for Gundo at the last minute. Give me strength!

    • Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Sterling and Gundogan owner that hurts bad

    • Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      27 with just bamford (c) to play

      Anyone at all doing worse?

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

        Anyone in this game? I'm on 24 with Cancelo, Dias, Salah here. Dallas and Bamford(C) to go. My bench: Martinez DCL Coufal Stones

        1. Steve The Spud
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Ok so your miles ahead of me haha

      2. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Someone on last page had 24

    • Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Not so much expectation from this LIV-MCI game but pen miss blimey it's something else ...

    • The Final Boss
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I mocked soucek owners yesterday guess what here I am as a proud gundo owner..karma they said 🙂

      1. Duke Silver ☑
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Plenty of us with both of them

        1. The Final Boss
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Oh that is harsh..

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

        Imagine the people who started Soucek and Gundogan. I'm not one of them, but that is still unlucky.

        1. Brimble82
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Front 8 of:
          Salah-Bruno-Son-Gundo-Soucek
          Kane-Antonio-DCL

          Benched DCL Obvs

    • EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Was planning on captaining Gundogan because of pens.

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        *in the DGW

    • Chucky
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Chilly likely to start?

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I think he will because Tiago is injured.

    • FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Which assist Gundo ruined?

      1. LSK
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Sterling

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Oh my.

          Sterling owner but not Gundo owner.

          Don't know what to think of it.

      2. EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Sterling

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Cheers lads

      3. Joey Tribbiani
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Sterling

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Thanks

    • Cruyff Turn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      FPL is like insurance, you're risking bets against randomness every gw. But over a season, you're betting against probabilities and patterns.

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Is that reflected in your decision making? Or do you get players in for one game?

        1. Cruyff Turn
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          It's a mix, I'd say 20% of the time I bring in players only for 1 game. Finding the right mix is the skill component of this game.

    • Rik Waller
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Noob question maybe...
      Got DCL first on bench, but noticed Soucek scored a 0. When do those DCL sub points get added to my score?

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Never

      2. Neevesy
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I presume you are joking?

      3. Cruyff Turn
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Soucek played, so he stays. No subs.

    • Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Gundo has been great but he’s had a stinker today