Dugout Discussion
7 March 2021 1218 comments
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An out-of-form Liverpool face Fulham in the second of four Premier League matches to take place on Sunday.

Kick-off on Merseyside is at 14:00 GMT.

Given that less than 72 hours separated the Reds’ Gameweek 26 clash with Chelsea and today’s game, and with Jurgen Klopp’s side looking jaded in that Thursday night defeat, a change or two to the starting XI always looked likely this afternoon.

We didn’t quite expect the full extent of the rotation, though: Klopp has made seven alterations to his line-up against the Cottagers as he attempts to avoid a sixth straight league defeat at Anfield.

Roberto Firmino (£9.2m) and Ozan Kabak (£5.0m) miss out with minor fitness issues but the other five changes are unenforced, with Klopp explaining ahead of kick-off:

Two changes we had to make because of little injuries, Bobby and Ozan.

We are in an intense period and we have an opportunity now to change some players who had more sessions in their legs. That’s the plan behind it: getting fresh legs back and trying to give Fulham a proper fight.

Sadio Mane (£11.8m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.4m) are among the players to make way, with Curtis Jones (£4.4m), Thiago (£5.6m) and Fabinho (£5.4m) also dropping to the bench.

Diogo Jota (£6.6m) starts a league game for the first time in over three months, while Rhys Williams (£4.0m), Neco Williams (£3.8m) and Nathaniel Phillips (£4.0m) come into a much-changed and youthful defence.

There are recalls too for Naby Keita (£5.2m) and Xherdan Shaqiri (£6.4m).

Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) has been spared the axe, with a half-hour breather after his early substitution against Chelsea perhaps influencing Klopp’s decision to field him from the start today.

The Fulham team news is more straightforward, with Scott Parker making only two changes from the side that started the 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£5.9m) is a surprise omission, with Bobby Decordova-Reid (£5.3m) in for the Chelsea loanee.

The regular rotation continues at full-back, meanwhile, with Antonee Robinson (£4.4m) making way for Kenny Tete (£4.3m).

DOUBLE GAMEWEEK 27 SO FAR…

Salah swerves Liverpool rotation as Klopp makes seven changes for Fulham

One of the more predictable results of the weekend saw strugglers West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United play out a goalless draw at the Hawthorns.

The Magpies were without their first-choice front three through injury and there was a predictable lack of conviction when chances fell the way of Joelinton (£5.7m), who was part of a strike duo with an ‘out of position’ Ryan Fraser (£5.6m).

For West Brom, this was a third clean sheet in four and a testament to the influence that new signing Okay Yokuslu (£4.5m) is having on the Albion back four.

A match against Crystal Palace in Gameweek 28 presents Sam Johnstone (£4.5m) with a good opportunity to build on his total of 27 points over his last four appearances.


Liverpool XI: Alisson, N. Williams, Phillips, R. Williams, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Milner, Keita, Shaqiri, Salah, Jota.

Fulham XI: Areola, Aina, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Tete, Cavaleiro, Lemina, Reed, Reid, Maja, Lookman.

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  1. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Actually thinking may bring Bruno back for Salah next week as captain v West Ham....... Crazy talk?

    1. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I could not understand everyone selling Bruno, when clearly Salah needed to go?

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        I did Bruno -> Salah loooool

        1. Fred54
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          I sold both for this GW.

          1. SADIO SANÉ
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            I'm probably gonna keep Salah til the end now, so this isn't over yet haha

      2. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        I know- regretting big time- persuaded by fixture

        1. dunas_dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          * on basis still have WC

  2. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    LMS safety score currently 8

    1. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      That’s mental after 6 fixtures.

      1. Tambling5
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Sounds odd but I've only had Martinez start so far!

  3. g40steve
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Down 7K after six games with only two players so far, crazy week?

  4. g40steve
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Watching Sterling as my Salah replacement 🙂

  5. DannyDrinkVodka
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Imagine somebody telling you a few short months ago that their season depends on KDB outscoring Gundogan.......slam dunk right?

  6. seewhyaxe
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    gundogan blank, sterling haul.. beautiful.

    1. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Nope

      sterling blank, gundogan haul.. beautiful.

  7. seewhyaxe
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    just noticed mahrez starting 5 in a row in the league.

  8. Parsnips
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Nowhere to hide for people who took out bruno

  9. It's Fergie Time
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    why sell bruno but not salah?

  10. Champions League Varane
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    SOLD BRUNO BUT IDC UP THE FCKING REDS

  11. KDB4PREZ
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Nowhere for Bruno sellers to hide

  12. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    LOL that's what I get for benching Bruno

  13. People in Preston
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    I've just realised that with no DDG this is gonna be a Hendo masterclass from last season.