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. Flair
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Run from it, hide from it, xG always arrives.

  2. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Keeper turning into Neuer at Anfield? Shock.

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

    Jota sitter

    1. TomSaints
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Great save more like

  4. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Jota Screamer kept out by nipples

  5. Hulk Smash
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Where will Liverpool finish next season?

    A - champions
    B - automatic promotion
    C - play-off places
    D - other

  6. Parsnips
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Salah > Son
    Barnes > Willock
    Gundo > De Bruyne
    DCl > Antonio

    For -8 good moves? Probs not free hitting in 29 and using it around 33. This will mean I’ve got 9 players for the blank gw...

    1. Stupendous
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Like those moves me

  7. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    It's unbelievable, Diogo Jota (Liverpool) blows a huge opportunity! He is totally unmarked and fires a first-time shot towards the left post from a few yards out, but Alphonse Areola reacts superbly to keep the ball out. - Flashscore

  8. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Reading comments during Liverpool games on here might be better than City team sheet time.

    Some of them 😆

    You’d have to wonder if they’re playing with the full deck...

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      People still believe City are running away with it not because of their squad!

      1. Vlekz
          5 years, 1 month ago

          They invested in it and kept playing it(pep roulette as it is called here), unlike Liverpool who used the same 11 week in and out.

    2. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Does anyone know how the BB of Tom Freeman is looking?

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

        AMN CS, Areola on for another, Dawson and Lingard still to play.

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Saka, Diagne & Pereira all blanked though.

          1. FPL Daniel
            • 16 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            That's decent imo.

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

      I think only dead teams and me have Salah in the team

      1. ThisTimeNxtYrRodney
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        No, not true. For my sins I still have him but my patience is growing thin.

      2. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        No I'm here too. He only has a few hours left though.

    4. Stupendous
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Salah out, KDB in

      That's the smart move. Lose one of the City 3 and replace with Kdb

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

        I like my 3 City.

      2. Rainer
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Day late.

    5. Warblers
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      You have to give Fulham a lot of credit. I wish they could stay up.

      1. Rainer
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah hopefully, they’ve improved so much and play good stuff.

      2. Bushwhacker
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        They will. Good team now. But they have so many players on loan.

    6. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yessss areola let’s goooo

    7. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Areola showing Martinez what a 3rd save looks like

    8. TomSaints
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Nice plane flyover haha

    9. Amey
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Was that Klopp Out In the air ? 😆

      1. Rainer
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        You wish!

        1. Amey
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          😉

    10. JONALDINHO
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Ederson
      Cancelo Dias Stones Zinchenko
      Gundo Rodri Bernardo
      Foden KDB Sterling

      Predicted line up for later.

    11. Bubz
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Cringe at that plane

    12. fusen
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Did anyone else being Aina in for the double and has him sitting on the bench this week?

      Absolute CLASSIC FPL if he manages a cleansheet here...

      1. fusen
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Bring in*

      2. MightyGar
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

      3. BobbyV
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yep. We here.

    13. Pep Roulette
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Chill out Liverpool fans. We're just having some fun and banter. No need to be so salty. Cheers!

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Its called trolling.

    14. The Philosopher
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Whatever happens this 2nd half, getting more convinced Salah needs to f**k off from my team.

      1. TomSaints
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I got him in haha. Thought surely they can’t quite keep being this rubbish

      2. Bushwhacker
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah KDB is just too tempting if he shows up today. Pep roulette is better than 2 pts

    15. Third Eye Vision
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      You can play Kopite bingo on here these days. Select from the following and tick off when you read it:

      Liverpool don’t perform without their fans (remember that this only applies to Liverpool)

      It’s too windy to play well (remember that wind only affects Liverpool and not their opponents)

      Liverpool are the only team to have had injuries affect their season

      Check your facts - find another team who have had this many injuries

      It’s a freak season

      Klopp is too inflexible - teams can’t sustain this style of play for more than one season

      Jordan Pickford etc.

      Liverpool don’t have a big squad

      Please feel free to add on x

      1. Marvin.
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        To be fair this virtually all comes from one poster. Most of us are a bit more realistic.

        1. Third Eye Vision
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          I’ve compiled most of them from the kopite pundits/commentators that are inflicted upon us. I’m surrounded by kopites in real life too.

          1. Marvin.
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Well you will be able to laud it over us when Everton finish above Liverpool, which they probably will. It's been along time since you've been able to do that.

      2. Mr. O'Connell
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        The wind excuse is huge tbf

      3. OverTinker
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        To be fair - ZambianWitchDoctor

      4. JONALDINHO
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Tbf haven’t heard anyone give out about the wind. Injuries and the crowd are massive issues. Yes every team suffers but some more than others. Look at Sheffield for example. They were flying high last year and once the crowd went they go from 7th/8th to 20th and one of the worst teams in Prem history. Liverpool’s success was built on Anfield. It’s the reason they got back to back to back European Finals. At home they’d win 3/4 nil and away they’d always lose. Also the difference between Van Dijk and Matip to Phillips and Williams is obviously massive. You can’t just write all that off

        1. Third Eye Vision
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Yes. They’re all factors.

          The amusing thing is the fans/pundits lack of perspective. Like these sorts of things don’t happen to other clubs. Like United fans following their club’s fall from the top, the sense of entitlement is staggering.

          The wind thing was a reference to the Anfield derby. The commentators mentioned a number of times about it hindering Liverpool in the first half. Then, in the second half, with Everton kicking the same way, they claimed it was advantageous to them.

          Then Klopp whinged about it post-match.

    16. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Areola flapping.

      1. Amey
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Need. Salah goal. Otherwise would hate myself for benching him over Martinez 😀

    17. Chalobah's Witness
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      man that sound, thought it was my gran's vibrator .

      1. g40steve
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        🙂

        Next week it will say Klopp Out

      2. Sim Simma
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        It's so annoying. We got the message, no need to hover it over the stadium

      3. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        That plane is really obnoxious. Would be funny if the players complained that it was distracting them afterwards haha

    18. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Shaq needs subbing

    19. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Captaining Salah was not the best choice after all

      1. Rainer
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        No Mane was a good basis but they’re still shite.

      2. Mr. O'Connell
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Applaud your blind faith

    20. AC Yew
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Salah ----> ?
      (Not a City player)

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Auba

      2. CaptMidnight
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Everyone is rubbish except Lingard.

        1. Third Eye Vision
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          But he can’t play in the West Ham v United game, so that’s off-putting in the short term.

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

        Son if you dont have him

      4. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Souness or McMahon I guess

    21. GROBARI
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Just imagine Salah Mane VVD and others playing Europa League next year (i know they can be out of Europa League spot as well)

      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Are they even safe from relegation?!

    22. Duke Silver ☑
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      They're getting their money's worth out of that plane 😆

      1. Rainer
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Noisy one!

    23. Parsnips
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Best defender options from now on?

      1. JBG
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Robertson or TAA. Keep them until end of the season.

      2. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Villa
        Everton
        Chelsea

        (assuming you already have 1/2 City)

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

        Rudiger Dias Dallas for me