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20 September 2025 675 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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The 247th Merseyside derby gets Gameweek 5 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) underway.

Liverpool v Everton kicks off at Anfield at 12.30pm BST.

TEAM NEWS

As many suspected would happen, Alexander Isak is only on the bench for Liverpool this afternoon.

More surprising is the demotion of Florian Wirtz to substitute duty.

Wirtz and Isak are two of four players who drop out of the Liverpool starting XI from the midweek win over Atletico Madrid.

Andrew Robertson and Jeremie Frimpong also make way.

Hugo Ekitike, Alexis Mac Allister, Conor Bradley and Milos Kerkez are the quartet that return to the Reds’ line-up.

Wirtz’s benching will presumably see the versatile Dominik Szoboszlai play in a more advanced role.

As for the Toffees, there’s just the one change from Gameweek 4.

Vitalii Mykolenko is back from injury, so Tim Iroegbunam drops out.

James Garner had been deputising as a makeshift left-back but Mylolenko’s return to fitness means that Garner can return to his usual central midfield role.

LINE-UPS

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Bradley, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Wirtz, Isak, Jones, Robertson, Frimpong, Ngumoha.

Everton XI: Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Gueye, Garner, Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish, Beto.

Subs: Travers, Patterson, McNeil, Barry, Dibling, Coleman, Alcaraz, Aznou, Iroegbunam.

price change predictions
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  1. Tonyawesome69
    1 year, 1 month ago

    VVD hits 10 defcons, folks can stop crying now

    1. Lanley Staurel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Which was the 10th? Lol

      1. Ninja Škrtel
        1 year, 1 month ago

        i think he had a last minute header clearance..

    2. chocolove
      1 year, 1 month ago

      So funny to see the defcon rants. Bunch of kids. Lol

      1. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Don't take it too seriously 😉

  2. Nightcrawler
    1 year, 1 month ago

    salah, gakpo, grealish

    so many mids to get rid of

    1. Not again Shirley
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Keep the latter surely.

      1. Nightcrawler
        1 year, 1 month ago

        one more week maybe

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      And Dango

    3. Absolutely Muñozed
      1 year, 1 month ago

      but who to get for salah? Bruno?

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Thinking Palmer

    4. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Ndiaye has done better with DC and here and there attacking points, and cheaper

  3. Not again Shirley
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Jake O’Brien on 1 DC. He’s a defender. How’s that even possible.

    1. x.jim.x
      1 year, 1 month ago

      He was up against Salah who barely touched the ball

      1. Tonyawesome69
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Wrong side...

  4. Ninja Škrtel
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Van Dijk with a last minute defcon!!

    1. Tanganga and Cash
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Phew! Was watching him like a hawk... 8 in the first half and only 1 in the second, until that 10th defcon at the death!

  5. F4L
    1 year, 1 month ago

    whats the big difference between ekitike and gakpo as wingers? like feel they have similar profiles, dont get why slot sees them as different players offering different things

    1. Tonyawesome69
      1 year, 1 month ago

      One is a CF/9, the other is a winger...

      1. F4L
        1 year, 1 month ago

        gakpo was that before joining liverpool in the main

        maybe just holding onto straws hoping isak starts next gw, but i dont see what gakpo offers that ekitike doesnt have in his locker.

          1. F4L
            1 year, 1 month ago

            ah well got that wrong it seems, mis remembering abit

            isak likely to be benched next gw then i guess, cant bench ekitike after that performance

            1. Baps Hunter
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              1 year, 1 month ago

              U serious?!?

    2. All Hail K
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      I thought this was a start to a joke.

      1. F4L
        1 year, 1 month ago

        apologies if it was a let down 😀

  6. Von Lipwig
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Woohoo! Eki 8 pointer covering Salah Capt nicely 🙂

    1. chocolove
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Congrats
      Mbeumo C here

      1. Von Lipwig
        1 year, 1 month ago

        I would say good luck but I'm a chelsea fan with Palmer cap... so, let's just say I hope you enjoy the game

        1. chocolove
          1 year, 1 month ago

          Going with my guts, I'm content with anything the result is.

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Keeping him?

      1. Von Lipwig
        1 year, 1 month ago

        That's tough. the plan was Eki to Gyokeres in GW7, so maybe one more game

  7. JBG
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Salah Cers in heaven

    1. Lanley Staurel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Unlikey

  8. NoOneCares
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Not sure there is anything more annoying than Salah non owners or people moaning about defcons.

    1. Ball Ake
      1 year, 1 month ago

      There is, people moaning about people moaning about Salah and defcons

    2. Yes Ndidi
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Yeah there is.

    3. Cruyff's Eleven
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      People moaning about 11 DEFCONs

  9. jam
    1 year, 1 month ago

    So is the future Mo Salah or No Salah?

  10. adstomko
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Gained in rank as a non-Salah owner.
    Thanks Hugo

  11. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Did Isak look worth his price and ready to start and to buy for next GW?

    1. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      No

    2. ☈☾
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Nope

    3. Lanley Staurel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Double no

    4. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      So still doesn’t look like far better than Haaland?

    5. Ball Ake
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Twirly

    6. Cruyff's Eleven
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      He'll score a brace v Southampton

  12. Brosstan
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Salah needs at least 5 minutes stoppage to haul. Someone check Dave England's FPL team..

    1. JBG
      1 year, 1 month ago

      And a pen

    2. chocolove
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Indeed, 3 minutes Injury time isn't enough

  13. Atimis
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Salah Watkins to Palmer Haaland (c) for free should be a no brainer?

    1. Von Lipwig
      1 year, 1 month ago

      sounds great tbh

      1. Atimis
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Rest of team ain’t too great but should be enough not to WC yet

    2. Lanley Staurel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Doing that w/o a wildcard is good

  14. The-Red-1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Who is the priority sell? Gakpo or Etikite?

    1. Brosstan
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Both

    2. Von Lipwig
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Gakpo

      1. Capocannonieri
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 year, 1 month ago

        It's like he is not even playing. Gets no passes and for long spells. There was 45 mins today of morbid display

        I would go deep and start hauling the ball from my half.

        Maybe the cats playing left back are trash. Kerkez sucks. Bradley plays there, he's a busted donkey.

    3. chocolove
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Ekitike first, more expensive and big spending Isak is lurking

      Gakpo only has that weertz to compete

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Does it look like Liverpool’s money is well spent this season?

      2. Capocannonieri
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Squirtz sucks too.

        He is competition but Squirtz will be playing for Fulham in 2 seasons. Or some other mid club.

        Or trade him to Bayern for Olise while he still has value.

  15. Weasel51
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Thinking GW6 Wildcard.

    Diouf, Wirtz, Guiu need to be gone without doubt plus have no City for their run coming up so would like to do the Salah > Haaland.

  16. fedolefan
    1 year, 1 month ago

    The sounds of wildcards and panic on here next week when Haaland returns 5 points and Salah 16 is one not to be missed.

    1. Atimis
      1 year, 1 month ago

      You can always say that about every random pair of players…

  17. Rwilliams90
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Gakpo to Foden on the cards.

    1. Brosstan
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Foden is an S tier troll, good luck

  18. ZimZalabim
    1 year, 1 month ago

    why did KDH get a yc ?

    I was watching but it wasnt clear to me

    Any idea ?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Maybe for dissent after taking the quick FK

      1. ZimZalabim
        1 year, 1 month ago

        yeah makes sense

  19. ididnt
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Of course Simons benched when I bring him in for a punt

    1. Vazza
      1 year, 1 month ago

      He will come on and score. He’s in my team too.

      1. ididnt
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Hope so though I imagine he’s being completely rested

  20. GoonerSteve
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Grealish late yellow card is annoying.

    1. Bleh
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Very.

    2. Capocannonieri
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      That's was after the game! I want my point back!

      I saw him complaining about nothing to the Refs.

      Someone needs to remind Grealo that Everton is a trash club and just anonymous NPCs to the big 6.

  21. Vazza
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Still early days but thoughts on these transfers:

    Salah • Caicedo • Virgil
    =>
    Palmer • Saka • Gvardiol

    4 point hit

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Saka is out injured

      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        1 year, 1 month ago

        I see he is nearing a return, not sure I would rush to buy Saka just yet. His hamstring problems seem to be a recurring problem.

    2. g40steve
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Prefer Ars defence, Pool’s leaky

  22. Three Pints of Schlager
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 year, 1 month ago

    I was expecting a lot more "Salah captain bragging" at this point.

    I mean, a 5 point mini haul isn't that bad in a game that didn't include lucky pens in the 10th minute of stoppage time..

    1. g40steve
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Too busy getting a big sofa for tomorrow afternoon

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 year, 1 month ago

      5 points isn't a haul

      1. Haa-lala-land
        1 year, 1 month ago

        He did say mini haul

        1. Three Pints of Schlager
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          1 year, 1 month ago

          Thanks..

          Still better than the lucky last-minute four point mininmini haul by VVD.

      2. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 year, 1 month ago

        It's a return, nothing else.

  23. Count of Monte Hristo
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Prioritise selling Gakpo or Johnson? I have 2FT but can only realistically start one of my new midfielders as the rest of my mids and attackers all have great fixtures in GW6.

    1. Tonyawesome69
      1 year, 1 month ago

      The one that doesn't start

  24. Haa-lala-land
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Leeds, Sunderland Burnley all to win?

    1. Bobby Digital
      1 year, 1 month ago

      With clean sheets please

      1. Haa-lala-land
        1 year, 1 month ago

        3 x 1-0 wins incoming

      2. Haa-lala-land
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Where's the delete/edit function?!

  25. Twisted Saltergater
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 year, 1 month ago

    I’m going to wildcard just to lose my Forest defenders ffs