Dugout Discussion

Kabak makes Liverpool debut and Vardy returns to Leicester City starting line-up

Ozan Kabak (£5.0m) is the latest man to partner auxiliary centre-half Jordan Henderson (£5.4m) for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

With Fabinho (£5.4m) ruled for the Reds with a muscle injury, the German’s hand was forced into another backline shuffle.

Ben Davies (£5.0m), also brought in as centre-back cover, is not part of the Liverpool matchday 18 due to a knock. Nat Phillips (£4.0m) is on the bench after deputising in Gameweek 22. On Kabak, Klopp said ahead of the early DGW24 kick-off:

It was a good training week for him, an important training week for him. Unfortunately, Ben Davies picked up a little knock as well so…it’s unbelievable.

Ozan looked good in training. The boys got used to each other. Of course today is a proper test against Leicester; against Vardy, against Maddison, against Barnes. It will be tricky but we think we are prepared.

On Leicester, Klopp added:

They can change systems, they are really strong and are extremely good at the counter attack.

Along with Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara (£5.6m) is the other player to drop out of Klopp’s XI from the 4-1 defeat to Manchester City in Gameweek 23. James Milner (£5.3m) is the man drafted into the midfield three.

Otherwise things are as we might expect for the champions. Mohamed Salah (£12.6m) Sadio Mane (£11.9m) Roberto Firmino (£9.3m), Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.4m) Andy Robertson (£7.3m) and Alisson (£5.9m) all start. Ahead of kick off, Alexander-Arnold told BT Sport:

It’s huge for us, coming here is always difficult. We’ve had a week to work on things, it’s chop and change at the back at the moment but we have to get used to that.

We are prepared for a few systems that Leicester may use and we think we can hurt them.

In embargoed quotes on Friday night, Klopp had said of Kabak and Davies:

Yeah, [Kabak is a] calm person. So, both Ben [Davies] and Ozan are calm people, willing to learn, great attitude. They really throw themselves in everything that is ahead of them – what a defender should do. Making big steps, adapting to the way we play, that’s important.

We have still a clear way to defend, which is important, because if both of them would be on the pitch, then there are still nine players who are used to what we did before – so if the two players would do something differently that would lead to a strange situation.

It’s all good so far. Now we have to make decisions. We have to change again because of Fab and now we will see which solution we will take.

Leicester could be using a back four or a wing-back system at the King Power stadium, with Brendan Rodgers coy in his pre-match interview. When BT Sport suggest the Foxes were in playing in a different shape, Rodgers responded:

Well you’ll see…not really. I think we have the flexibility to play in that [different formation]. That’s been the pleasing element of the team’s development in specific games. We can adapt and change.

Jamie Vardy (£10.0m) returns to the Leicester league XI for the first time since Double Gameweek 19. The forward did log 29 minutes as a sub in GW23 and started the midweek FA Cup win against Brighton.

James Maddison (£7.4m) and Harvey Barnes (£6.9m) could flank Vardy in a 3-4-3 set up, while Wilfred Ndidi (£4.8m) also makes his injury return to start in midfield.

Ricardo Pereira (£5.9m) looks set to operate at either left-back or left wing-back, with £3.9m defender Daniel Amartey playing on the right-hand side of Rodgers’ defence.

Unfortunately, the aformentioned James Justin will be out for a lengthy period after an ACL injury in that FA Cup this tie. Rodgers stated on Saturday:

He [Justin] has an operation next week and hopefully he’ll be back within a number of months. Big blow for us.

Leicester XI (4-1-4-1 or 3-4-3): Schmeichel; R Pereira, Soyuncu, Evans, Amartey; Ndidi; Barnes, Maddison, Tielemans, Albrighton; Vardy.

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Robertson, Henderson, Kabak, Alexander-Arnold; Jones, Wijnaldum, Milner; Mane, Firmino, Salah.

1,411 Comments Post a Comment
  1. dogtanion
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Leicester struggling to pass the ball to a teammate anywhere on the pitch

  2. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Salah is central to everything Pool do, he’s hauling today

  3. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Sold Salah and benched Robbo, this is uncomfortable viewing

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

      You've smashed it. Salah looks in the worst form of his Liverpool career.

      1. John Nerdelbaum
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        What on earth are you talking about?

        1. Make United Great Again
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          He’s an extremist.

          1. Stupendous
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            He's a nut

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Who did the bring in?

      1. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Sterling

        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Right now that's the right choice.

          Anything can twist and turn.

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

      Game has settled into 0-0 pattern. Tiago helps. Noone has Pool defenders.

      1. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        To be fair id take a 0-0 and Robbo bench point jam for Antonio

    4. Gross Blank Point
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yeh sold him as well and he's looking far more dangerous than ha has for a while.
      That's FPL for you!

  4. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Forster in would be great if true.

    On purpose didnt do Forster to Pope transfer this week in case this happened, and got Mee instead.

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

      Ditto. Probably just overthinking tho.

  5. Neves say Neves
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is there a way to check exactly how many managers own a player?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      It tells you % selected by and work it into 8 million or so.

    2. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes click on their info on FPL and it’s the second last column or so.

  6. Fudgy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Considering no one has captained Salah I can say this without causing offence but this is a huge Salah fail and blank. With KDB back soon he's an easy way into the Belgian hauler.

    1. Tshelby
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      ? they only played 30 min?

    2. dogtanion
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You joking ? That's the most dangerous 30 mins I've seen from an individual player in a fpl perspective in ages

    3. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      😆

    4. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I think that's right.

      Obviously he can get points like last week and it's dangerous to say with an hour to go.

    5. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Why do people fall for this guys match day trolling every time? hahaha

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Don’t think he’s trolling, he may be genuinely daft

      2. FFSbet.com
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        My favorite poster here,creative too unlike some serious fantasy points collectors dullards.

      3. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        He's entitled to his opinion.

        Think he does okay in FPL too.

    6. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Clearly don’t watch nor understand the game..

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

        I study football for a living but okay

        1. ‘Tis the Season
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Get your money back..

        2. ZimZalabim
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          so ur saying ur a con man

          1. Gross Blank Point
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            No, just not good at his job lol

        3. Captain_Shirokov
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          bro being a FFS sh*itposter isn't a job lmao

        4. DickFranDyke
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Really, I'd get a new job.

        5. Pukki Blinders
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Get off the unemployment benefits then

    7. Bobby
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Salah is like haz back in the day. Yes he can do nothing for a few games but not having him is still a huge risk as he hauls as much as he fails

  7. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Scrappy game so far

  8. JustPark
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Offside aside, that save tho.

  9. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Stephens transferred out McCarthy because he’s playing the DGWs. Stop overthinking it.

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

    Surely time to test Allison

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

      Exactly. If they use him effectively he is Leicester’s best player!

  11. Akris
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    The updated version of Livefpl looks so good. Makes EO much more simpler to understand. Great work Ragabolly. Thank you

    1. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      haaha just posted the same thing
      excellent work again

    2. Ragabolly
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks a lot mate, simplifying what EO means is exactly the purpose of the new additions 😀

  12. ZimZalabim
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I know this will get lost in the comments, but..

    BIG UP RAGABOLLY !!!

    Every week there is a new addition to LIVEFPL and its always an awesome one.

    THANK YOU for the site its really an amazing asset.

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

      Yup. Good work must always be appreciated.

    2. Ragabolly
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Absolutely honored sir, thank you 🙂 I finally got some free time this last month to work on ideas I always wanted to implement, glad they add to the experience 🙂

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

        Excellent site, cracking work 🙂

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

      Agreed. Ragabolly is genius!
      Don’t put a curse on the site please.

    4. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Only matchday comment worth upvoting since 2013

  13. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Leicester look terrible.

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

      Games gone flat

  14. Captain_Shirokov
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    salah double digit haul inbound

  15. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Rival has given up then haha!! https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/4845143/event/24

    Not even sure to class him as a rival, but yeah, defo given up lol

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

      Thought he could play WC & TC at same time?

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

        Shout

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

        Oh no, they used it already.

        1. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Haha yeah, glad I’ve held on to some chips, however I did deploy the BB this GW to get it out the way before WC’ing

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

      Oh that’s class.

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

      Imagine that -28 pays off haha.
      Maybe going for highest scoring week player

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Haha i know yeah, I’d be left with a slap to the face if that came off big time, maybe he is, never known a hitter like him though lol

        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          He's even left a lot in his bank.

          1. Salah’s Sonnet
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Probably saving it for a -36 next GW

            1. AC/DC AFC
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Is he a good mate?

              Mention it.

              1. Salah’s Sonnet
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Mention it to him?

                1. AC/DC AFC
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  3 years, 1 month ago

                  Yeah, ask him why?

                  1. Salah’s Sonnet
                    • 12 Years
                    3 years, 1 month ago

                    Ahh don’t really know him that well

    4. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      It's only a -16

    5. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      The Dias to Stones switch is something to behold, after the flurry he really and time to think that was what he needed to do.

      Perhaps he hasn't noticed transfer costs or doesn't take it too seriously.

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Haha yeah I guess so, just amazed me is all

  16. dark91
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Vardy close with a header

  17. Penang Sandman
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Mane in the pocket of Leicester Francis Ngannou

    1. Penang Sandman
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      add Robbo in as well

  18. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Everyone needs to work on their first touch.

    1. Captain_Shirokov
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      even me?

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        No posting while playing.

    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Absolutely! First rule of football:- control ******* ball.

  19. dogtanion
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Madison making my decision to bench him next week very easy. Shocking first half by him

  20. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Robertson looking sharp again.

  21. Bounce
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    So many games are going into HT at 0-0 this season. The players are all completely f***ed. Thank goodness there aren't any fans in the stadium to witness such poor football.

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Been a great game so far

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

        3 shots on target.

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      90 mins of running around once or twice a week shouldn’t make them f***ed

  22. Brightside
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Will the DGW 26 fixtures be announced before too long? Thinking to WC GW 25 and maybe BB 26. Thanks

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

      Should know most of fixtures before the GW25 deadline on Friday

  23. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Almost Vardy

  24. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    How is the Egyptian Bolasie playing so far? Will he be hauling with 3 points instead of two this week?

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He'll score from this fk.

    2. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You sound like Fudgys second account

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

        No, I sound like you.

  25. tbos83
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Vardy off the bar

  26. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Vardy Trent and Ricardo on wc looking good

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wouldn't pick Ricardo at LB.

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

    Vardy Barty

  28. DMP
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Cmon Mo. Everyone sold you for Raz except myself. Time to punish the unfaithful.

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

    Evans YC

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

      Hurt himself

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

    Trent rubbish