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. EDUARDO DA SILVA
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    If football was fair like today, klopp will be always in shadow od mighty Pep ♡

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Freak result from freak incidents.

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Nah . Pool clearly second best by s distance.

    2. HNI
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Klopp game has always been about passion and motivation and clearly these players have achieved their life goal of epl and ucl both. So its Pep time as Pep is looking to become legendary not just world class

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Pep has a squad ; Klopp doesn’t

        1. Here's Tom with the We…
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Diddums

  2. Limbo
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Foden having the game of his life. Cementing a spot too you’d think...

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nah pep will bench him next game just watch

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

      Lol with Pep about

    3. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He's always been one of their best players, just pep fraud doesn't want to play him.

    4. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Had him from week 3 to week 13. Think I got about 2 starts out of him. I've learned my lesson.

    5. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nope ; City have too much depth in midfield

  3. Party time
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Klopp’s presser imminent

    • Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Find the dude who captained Foden on an absolute hunch. He was posting on Friday I think.

    • ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Foden played such a great game today deserved that goal.

    • pundit of punts
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Foden first on my bench

      Chances of Bamford missing out? 🙁

      1. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Would also like that with DCL first on bench.

      2. Here's Tom with the We…
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Ouch

      3. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        In know a guy based in the Leeds area.

        1. pundit of punts
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          What does he say?

          1. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            He can be out for one week, one month or he can play. You decide.

    • Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Robbo subbed, 0 pts

    • All Hail K
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If this was a hockey game TAA wouldn't have any teeth after a stunt like that against a goalie.

      1. mixology
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        City don’t have anyone tough to get in his face , outside of Walker

        1. All Hail K
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          True this.

    • HNI
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Brazilian Karius should have done better on 4th City goal too..

    • Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Magical from Foden.

      Congratulations City!

    • Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundo still hanging on to 3 baps.

    • Random Name
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      TAA salty

    • ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Some bum coming on for Liverpool

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        That’s the state of the squad

    • Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Close now!

      Gündogan (44)
      Foden (44)
      Sterling (36)
      Bernardo Silva (24)
      Salah (24)
      Alexander-Arnold (24)

    • Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      What’s with all these players I don’t own or have benched hauling?

      1. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yet your rank... your rank....

    • Milk, 1 Šuker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Level pegging for 3 baps between Gundo and Phil

    • GROBARI
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Liverpool from 2017 to January 2021- 0 defeats at home
      Liverpool last 3 weeks - 3 defeats at home

    • DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Foden for the double?

    • Max City
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Gundo MAX BAP

      1. HonestBlatter
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        That would do...maybe hattie?

    • Plagued by indecision
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Safe to say TAA has been a disastrous purchase.

    • George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Liverpool anihilated. It's their own fault for having such weak back up players.

      1. Here's Tom with the We…
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Must be someone else’s fault. Always is.

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

        Yeah not having City’s pockets

        1. George Sillett
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Just an excuse. The owners have sack loads of cash .

          1. Here's Tom with the We…
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Always someone else’s fault

            1. Supersonic Marv'
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              F**k you.

    • The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I see your true colors...

    • Party time
        3 years, 1 month ago

        3 defeats in a row at home.

        Klopp out!

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

          The new Chelsea

        2. King Carlos
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Wenger out!

        3. GROBARI
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Calm down buddy

      • DandyDon
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Wow! Benched Foden unfortunately but at least called Stones and Digne benchings correctly. Only Antonio blanked for me of attackers so ok. Looks a great option alongside Gundo for Double Gameweek now!

        1. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Exactly

      • SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Robertson to Mee turned out to be a success

      • Ninja Škrtel
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Had Foden since GW 19. Zero returns, brought Grealish instead this GW ffs....

      • g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Played Barnes, Foden 16 pointer first on bench!

        1. _Ninja_
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          You need Bamford to pull a sickie.

      • ivantys
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        One more Gundo to Sterling pls

      • Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Serious question - have Man City improved since KDB got injured?

      • Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Klopp deserves this humiliation. Very well deserved. After all, poor Liverpool are tired 😉

        1. Bushwhacker
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Why? Playing with half a team for months.