Dugout Discussion

Jota benched as Alexander-Arnold returns to Liverpool starting XI

Diogo Jota is the main omission from the Liverpool starting XI this afternoon as Watford welcome the Reds to Vicarage Road in Claudio Ranieri’s first match in charge.

Kick-off is at 12:30 BST.

Jota is only among the substitutes for the visitors but Trent Alexander-Arnold has recovered from a groin injury to return at right-back, with James Milner moving into midfield.

Caoimhin Kelleher lines up between the posts, meanwhile, with Brazilian duo Alisson and Fabinho not involved after representing their country in the early hours of Friday morning.

Naby Keita starts in place of the injured Curtis Jones, with Roberto Firmino brought in at Jota’s expense to line up alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

Salah has been massively backed with the captaincy in Gameweek 8, with not far off 90% of the top 10,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers handing him the armband.

A total of 3.5 million Fantasy bosses captained Salah overall, while he was transferred in by just over a third of a million more FPL managers ahead of this morning’s deadline to swell his ownership to 63%.

The Egyptian’s highest-ever Gameweek score of 29 points came against today’s opponents back in 2017/18, and he has 10 attacking returns in six meetings with the Hornets.

As for the hosts, Ranieri has made three changes from Xisco Munoz’s final starting XI as Watford boss.

Francisco Sierralta and Joshua King are out injured, with Craig Cathcart and Cucho Hernandez replacing them. Ozan Tufan is benched, meanwhile, with Adam Masina taking his place.

It’s a 4-4-1-1 on paper for last season’s Championship runners-up but it remains to be seen if the veteran Italian has other ideas come kick-off.


GAMEWEEK 8 LINE-UPS

Watford XI: Foster, Rose, Ekong, Masina, Cathcart, Sissoko, Femenia, Sarr, Dennis, Hernandez, Kucka.

Subs: Bachmann, Ngakia, Louza, Cleverley, Pedro, Sema, Gosling, Fletcher, Tufan.

Liverpool XI: Kelleher, van Dijk, Milner, Keita, Firmino, Mane, Salah, Henderson, Robertson, Matip, Alexander-Arnold.

Subs: Adrian, Konate, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jota, Minamino, Tsimikas, Origi, Williams.

MATCHDAY LIVE WATCHALONG

1,403 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Knights Template
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Is that Danny Rose with a beer gut?

    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      No, it’s a Beer Gut with danny rose….

    2. Maddamotha
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Same diet as Nasri and Hazard.

    3. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      no, muddle covid spread

      1. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        middle

    4. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Tbh I don't get when people joke about players being unfit/out of shape.

      To even be in contention to start a PL match you have to pass some serious fitness tests.

      Most of us here are slumped on the couch/bed stuffing faces with crisps.

      1. The Knights Template
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Apparently you don’t.

  2. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Rose is so out of his depth. Still remember him wanting a move to AC Milan in the Spurs doc. What a joke.

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      That debut goal for Spurs meant he would overhyped for eternity

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        *be

      2. @persecuted_by_mods
          2 years, 5 months ago

          He was a good solid player though, just because he's no longer good doesn't mean he was always bad

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      OMG mane

    3. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Incredible pass Salah

      1. Eh, just one more thing ...
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Unbelievable ball from salah

    4. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Mane G
      Salah A

    5. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Salah assist

      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        No OMG?

        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          *NOMG

    6. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Mane goal

    7. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Goal Liverpool

    8. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      what.a.ball.by.mo

    9. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      YES MO!! Feels good to finally be on the right side of your returns!

    10. R.C
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Mane was the one to own...

    11. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Great goal but Rose has been atrocious

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

        Nice boots tho.

    12. @persecuted_by_mods
        2 years, 5 months ago

        What a pass

      • DycheDycheBaby
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Wow. Salah. Class.

      • F4L
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        I love you Mane 😀

        1. have you seen cyan
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          You capped Mane in the end??

          1. F4L
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 5 months ago

            no 😥

            Should've listened!

            1. have you seen cyan
              • 4 Years
              2 years, 5 months ago

              Ah plenty of time for Salah to go mental 🙂 gl

      • Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Salah never fails in the early kick-offs

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Ghandi can suck it.

        2. Thomas Magnum
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Other than the Burnley game*

      • AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Danny Rolled!!

        1. ‘Tis the Season
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Bakery wants their rolls back

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

            This.

            He's only 31.

      • tiger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Kiss from a Rose

      • Calculated Risks
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Owning Salah and Mane has been lovely. Still can't believe Manes ownership

        1. LE CHARO
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          People are not interested because he's not a captaincy option and he didn't have a good 20-21 season, but he's definitely a brilliant pick. Enjoy the points !

      • LE CHARO
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        The level Salah is playing at currently is simply insane. What a ball !

      • Kodap
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        That Salah assist has surely got to be one of the best I’ve seen in a long time, unreal.

      • Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Uh oh. Non-Salah owner here. Goodbye

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Only just bought him this week! Had to be done, I’m never selling again

      • ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Salah looks in the mood here. Wants that new contract

      • Forza
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Red arrow for Seal.

      • Podge
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Yay triple captan points 🙂
        let the flood gates open

      • Uppercut Panda - A legend i…
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Is it too early for Ranieri to sub rose off?

        1. The Knights Template
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          He could wave a sub at him and he’d come straight off.

      • Diddly Squat
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        I did advise getting Mane earlier . Salah is playing on the wing , Mane thru the middle more .

        1. The Knights Template
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Must follow you on various social media platforms so as not to miss out in future.

      • TheTinman
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        What a pass.

        Let the floodgates open

        1. The Knights Template
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Sluicegates more like with this Watford team.

      • Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Christ, just seen the Salah assist. He is on another level thus year, which is saying something in itself.

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          In decline

        2. The Knights Template
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Because he is slim.

      • Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Commentator "Salah came out of that smelling of Roses" 😀

        1. FPL_Crisis
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          thats gold