Dugout Discussion

Alisson and Fabinho return to bolster Liverpool defence as Tuchel recalls Werner

Six successive days of Premier League action comes to an end at Anfield this evening as the 17th and final Double Gameweek 26 fixture takes place.

Liverpool v Chelsea gets underway at 20:15 GMT, as two defences in contrasting form meet on Merseyside.

The Reds kept only their second Premier League clean sheet of the calendar year in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Sheffield United, ending a run of seven straight blanks for Andrew Robertson (£7.2m).

Chelsea’s backline has been watertight in comparison, with five shut-outs arriving in the seven top-flight fixtures that Thomas Tuchel has overseen.

Antonio Rudiger (£4.6m) and Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.7m) have been a part of all of those clean sheets and both players start this evening.

The respective managers have made two changes apiece for tonight’s encounter.

Alisson (£5.9m) returns from compassionate leave for the hosts, replacing Adrian (£4.2m) between the posts.

The Reds’ faltering backline has been further boosted by the return to fitness of Fabinho (£5.4m), who takes Nat Phillips‘ (£4.0m) place at centre-half.

Diogo Jota (£6.6m), who would have made the matchday squad at Bramall Lane were it not for illness, is among the substitutes.

Mohamed Salah (£12.6m) will face his former employers once again as he looks to improve on a sub-par recent record of nine blanks in his last 12 matches.

As for Chelsea, Timo Werner (£9.2m) replaces Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.7m) in the visitors’ attack.

Jorginho (£4.7m) is in for Mateo Kovacic (£5.3m) in the middle of the park, with Marcos Alonso (£5.7m) again only among the substitutes as Ben Chilwell (£5.8m) continues at left wing-back.


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

Chelsea: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, James, Kante, Jorginho, Chilwell, Ziyech, Mount, Werner.

1,692 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    24 pts from my starting 11 in 2nd half of DGW,

    11 out of 11 blanks. LOL!

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

      Have we got the same team!

      1. Coys96
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Actually 10 blanks! forgot about gundo lol

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

          Just Gundo, Bruno C and Shaw here

          29 rom 11 starters with Mo to come

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

    DCL to Son for a hit?

    1. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Not possible

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

      Perfect transfer I’d do it

  3. Vamos Los Celeste
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who is Chelsea pen taker tonight?

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Jorg

      1. Vamos Los Celeste
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Hope so.

  4. Totalfootball
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Need a Salah megahaul to save this GW

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

      Yep

    2. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      yes

  5. Only a Hazard of time
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Even the DGWs are a disappointment this season

    1. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Every season tbf

  6. Kaneyonero
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    136 (-24)
    Richarlison normal captain beating TC Kane delighted

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Wow

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

      Team ?

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

        Linked on my profile now

    3. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Lmao what

  7. 03farmboy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Mount or Antonio?

    1. KEN YA DIG IT
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Antonio by far

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

    102 with Salah to go but still a Kane TC that freaking sucks

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      What goes around comes around. A lot of gloating going on last night when Bruno blanked.

    2. All For One
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      At least Kane scored, DCL massive flop for me as TC so disappointing!

  9. KEN YA DIG IT
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Feel sorry for the DCL triple captainers
    Haha

    1. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Those that did it as a punt.. fair enough. Anyone who genuinely thought he was the best option is deluded.

  10. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Dcl to Antonio in prep for 29 ?

    1. SKENG
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I have both DCL and Richarlison and I'm doing Rich > Antonio. Would do DCL as well.

      1. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Why keep Dcl over Ricky?

        1. SKENG
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Because Rich's 2 in last 2 doesn't change that DCL is more likely to score than him.

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

      Hold in case dgw pre 29

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

      Wait and see if Everton gets a DGW28 vs Villa

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

      DGW still possible in 28 for DCL

  11. George Agdgdgwngo
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    4 point hit to do Barnes & Vardy to son and Antonio?

  12. SM001
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    VAR playing a blinder tonight. How Andre Gomes stays on the pitch is anyones guess.

  13. brianutd-why always we? 20
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Good night so far dodging a Kane haul and DCL too. Need Salah to do some damage now.

  14. Dybala10
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Barnes & Maguire > Son & Burn worth a -4?

    1. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Don't forget sunscreen

  15. bialk
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Only a goal from my 7 attackers.

  16. flipmode_1
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bruno + Gundo out for KDB + ? (-4)

    Worth doing? Who else would you recommend? I’ll have 5.9m to spend on the other mid

    1. NULL-X-VOID
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      wouldn't want KDB seeing his role in City's attack, way too deeper. Would be great only for assists

      1. flipmode_1
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Any others you’d suggest? Thinking of ditching Bruno as he looks knackered and fixtures not great and blank game week coming up. I have Salah, Son and Soucek as the other mids.

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

    Please just let this be a decent game of football. It's bad enough we're deprived of FPL points but the footy has been so boring.

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Nil nil incoming.

  18. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    DCL to Kane for free with one of two FTs. No brainer?

  19. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    It was just one of those Gameweeks, many captain failures:
    Dias
    Stones
    Cancelo
    KDB
    Sterling
    Gundogen
    Bruno
    Foden
    DCL
    Kane
    Salah (tbc)

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

      Some of those players scored goals...

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

      How was Dias a captain fail?

    3. michaelington
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Kane scored, not a fail. Gundo also returned. List needs updating.

      1. Digital-Real
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        you expect more in a DGW. Ask a Gundog or Kane capper if they satisfied with the points this GW?

        1. michaelington
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Kane captainer, I’m ok with it.
          Of course I have players who scored higher, Dias, Stones, Konsa, Martinez. Would I captain them though? No way.
          Kane returned, so not a fail.
          Would I have liked more, yes. But we always want more.

  20. Dirty Harry
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    That DGW was let down the same way my wife says I am in bed.

    1. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      But you are so dirty Harry!

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      And your called Dirty Harry.

  21. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Cmon Mo, I have stuck with you all season ......get me to 120......

  22. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone else still in the cup? When do you dare to dream?

    1. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Nope

    2. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Just checked. I'm in the cup. Don't care much about it though. It finishes in GW38 doesn't it? Way too long to go.

  23. NULL-X-VOID
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    given the DGW, nearly holding my rank with the smallest of a green arrow seems great tbh

  24. Jon Snow
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Friendship ended with DCL

  25. djman102
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A brace from Salah tonight will get me...a small green arrow. Let's go, Salah!

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

    Congrats Werner owners!

  27. Steager
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    will Harvey Barnes drop? or is he locked due to injury.

    who to transfer out to?

    A) Son
    B)Bale
    C)Saka
    D) Foden
    E) Anyone else.

    Have FH GW29 but may not use it.

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

      Injury doesn't lock prices.

  28. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Those that watched the West Brom game, was Pereira any good?

    1. NULL-X-VOID
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      he was great as a playmaker, can't really see him getting FPL points tho. Diagna standout WBA FPL option. AMN comes close second

    2. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No, overelaborate and inconsistent

  29. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    So DCL was the worst captain choice of the GW? Who'd have thunk it?

    1. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Returning from injury is always tricky, same as Kane

  30. A. PRISE
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Roy Keane was so right about Spurs

    1. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Man United really aren’t any better.

      1. A. PRISE
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        He didn't say anything good about them to be fair

        1. Qaiss
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          But he says good things about Ole. The season isn’t finished yet, who knows where both sides will finish and who will have the better season.