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

    Stones offside goal

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

      Half City was offside

  2. Plagued by indecision
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Pleased that Gundo and Salah got their goals but DCL and Martinez laughing at me from the bench. Could be looking at 70 points.

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

      Bingo!

      1. Plagued by indecision
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I keep telling myself having this great squad will pay off in the end. All my ML rivals have burned their wildcards and free hits. Hoping to profit big during the doubles.

  3. Mr. Chimes
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Cancelo is effectively playing CDM being shifted centrally

  4. Ozzy smith
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    One of them where Salah should be booked for effectively cheating, but the foul stands.

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

      Because it was a foul. Because Dias was daft.

      1. Ozzy smith
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        What are you on about?

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

      Err no.

      1. Ozzy smith
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Simulation (cheating/diving) is simulation, regardless. Should be punished either way.

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

    That is grab by Fabinho, what Dias did was TOUCH Salah and he flaps

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

    32 points on my bench

    Matinee, DCL, Salah

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

      Matinee idol

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

      ok, can't beat that score

    3. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Need to update your link, no DCL there

    4. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Why would you bench salah.. seriously?

      1. OneDennisBergkamp
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        agreed

        1. Kitman
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          that should have been a man city win to nil!

          he wasnt in the game at all

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

    Stones g

    Disallowed

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

    Thank god offside

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

    Toenail.

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

      Half the team was off! Oh wait, we don’t actually play offside anymore do we ...

  10. sergioaguero67
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    33 points on my bench so far
    With the hope that nobody else scores

    Martinez
    Targett
    Salah
    Gundogan

    Kill me now.

    1. Sid1891
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Wow love to play BB if l was you

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

      What fodder did you play?!?!

  11. CRO KLOPP
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Jesus incoming

  12. elchilangles
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    what is the rule for assists for penalties? Isn't it an automatic assist if you win the penalty? Can someone please explain how it works?

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

      Simple. You can't assist yourself.

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

        thanks

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

      Yes except of you score it yourself

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

      You can't assist yourself if that what's you're asking.

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

      Alison uncharacteristic mistakes

  13. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    LiVARpool clearly at work here...

    1. King Carlos
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Lol

    2. Marvin Moon
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yawn.com

  14. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Looks like a 3rd red arrow in a row. Sickkk

  15. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    TAA dominating the BPS.

  16. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Last 3 Opposition Players to Score vs Man City

    Salah Today

    Hudson odoi

    Salah in October

  17. JustPark
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Phew. Stones on 3rd sub.

  18. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Stones saving the valid goals for the dgw.

  19. Mattymo23
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Benched Foden and Stones. PHEW

  20. All Hail K
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Forgot Mahrez was on the pitch.

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

    Come on Trent grab those 3 bonuses

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

      Nvm not needed anymore

  22. Party time
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Trent 3 baps? 😆

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

      1k green arrow currently lol

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

      Salah (24)
      Alexander-Arnold (24)
      Gündogan (20)
      Jones (18)
      Stones (17)
      Rodrigo (16)
      Zinchenko (15)

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

      Alisson OMG

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

      gundo goal foden a

    • ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      OMG gundogan.

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

      Gundooooooooooo

    • Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Feel like I'm the only one actually playing Stones this gw. Needed that to be inside so badly

      1. Saka Punch
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Onside

    • aleksaa2
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Gundoooo