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20 September 2025 675 comments
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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
    • 6 Years
    2 months, 17 days ago

    VVD hits 10 defcons, folks can stop crying now

    1. Lanley Staurel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 17 days ago

      Which was the 10th? Lol

      1. Ninja Škrtel
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 17 days ago

        i think he had a last minute header clearance..

    2. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 17 days ago

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

      1. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 months, 17 days ago

        Don't take it too seriously 😉

  2. Nightcrawler
    • 6 Years
    2 months, 17 days ago

    salah, gakpo, grealish

    so many mids to get rid of

    1. Not again Shirley
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 17 days ago

      Keep the latter surely.

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 6 Years
        2 months, 17 days ago

        one more week maybe

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 17 days ago

      And Dango

    3. Absolutely Muñozed
        2 months, 17 days ago

        but who to get for salah? Bruno?

        1. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          Thinking Palmer

      • Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 17 days ago

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

    4. Not again Shirley
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 17 days ago

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

      1. x.jim.x
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 17 days ago

        He was up against Salah who barely touched the ball

        1. Tonyawesome69
          • 6 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          Wrong side...

    5. Ninja Škrtel
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 17 days ago

      Van Dijk with a last minute defcon!!

      1. Tanganga and Cash
        • 3 Years
        2 months, 17 days 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!

    6. F4L
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 17 days 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
        • 6 Years
        2 months, 17 days ago

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

        1. F4L
          • 10 Years
          2 months, 17 days 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
              • 10 Years
              2 months, 17 days 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
                • 8 Years
                2 months, 17 days ago

                U serious?!?

      2. All Hail K
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        2 months, 17 days ago

        I thought this was a start to a joke.

        1. F4L
          • 10 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          apologies if it was a let down 😀

    7. Von Lipwig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 17 days ago

      Woohoo! Eki 8 pointer covering Salah Capt nicely 🙂

      1. chocolove
        • 15 Years
        2 months, 17 days ago

        Congrats
        Mbeumo C here

        1. Von Lipwig
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 17 days 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
            • 15 Years
            2 months, 17 days ago

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

      2. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 months, 17 days ago

        Keeping him?

        1. Von Lipwig
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

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

    8. JBG
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 17 days ago

      Salah Cers in heaven

      1. Lanley Staurel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        2 months, 17 days ago

        Unlikey

    9. NoOneCares
        2 months, 17 days ago

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

        1. Ball Ake
          • 1 Year
          2 months, 17 days ago

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

        2. Yes Ndidi
          • 6 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          Yeah there is.

        3. Cruyff's Eleven
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          People moaning about 11 DEFCONs

      • jam
        • 16 Years
        2 months, 17 days ago

        So is the future Mo Salah or No Salah?

      • adstomko
        • 9 Years
        2 months, 17 days ago

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

      • RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 months, 17 days 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
          • 13 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          No

        2. ☈☾
          • 8 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          Nope

        3. Lanley Staurel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          Double no

        4. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

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

        5. Ball Ake
          • 1 Year
          2 months, 17 days ago

          Twirly

        6. Cruyff's Eleven
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          He'll score a brace v Southampton

      • Brosstan
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 17 days ago

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

        1. JBG
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          And a pen

        2. chocolove
          • 15 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          Indeed, 3 minutes Injury time isn't enough

      • Atimis
        • 9 Years
        2 months, 17 days ago

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

        1. Von Lipwig
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          sounds great tbh

          1. Atimis
            • 9 Years
            2 months, 17 days ago

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

        2. Lanley Staurel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          Doing that w/o a wildcard is good

      • The-Red-1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 months, 17 days ago

        Who is the priority sell? Gakpo or Etikite?

        1. Brosstan
          • 11 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          Both

        2. Von Lipwig
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          Gakpo

          1. Capocannonieri
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            2 months, 17 days 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
          • 15 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          Ekitike first, more expensive and big spending Isak is lurking

          Gakpo only has that weertz to compete

          1. RamaJama
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            2 months, 17 days ago

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

          2. Capocannonieri
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            2 months, 17 days 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.

      • Weasel51
        • 9 Years
        2 months, 17 days 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.

      • fedolefan
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 17 days 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
          • 9 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

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

      • Rwilliams90
        • 14 Years
        2 months, 17 days ago

        Gakpo to Foden on the cards.

        1. Brosstan
          • 11 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          Foden is an S tier troll, good luck

      • ZimZalabim
        • 9 Years
        2 months, 17 days ago

        why did KDH get a yc ?

        I was watching but it wasnt clear to me

        Any idea ?

        1. Tonyawesome69
          • 6 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          Maybe for dissent after taking the quick FK

          1. ZimZalabim
            • 9 Years
            2 months, 17 days ago

            yeah makes sense

      • ididnt
        • 14 Years
        2 months, 17 days ago

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

        1. Vazza
          • 5 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

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

          1. ididnt
            • 14 Years
            2 months, 17 days ago

            Hope so though I imagine he’s being completely rested

      • GoonerSteve
        • 16 Years
        2 months, 17 days ago

        Grealish late yellow card is annoying.

        1. Bleh
          • 8 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          Very.

        2. Capocannonieri
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 17 days 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.

      • Vazza
        • 5 Years
        2 months, 17 days ago

        Still early days but thoughts on these transfers:

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

        4 point hit

        1. Count of Monte Hristo
          • 12 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          Saka is out injured

          1. Count of Monte Hristo
            • 12 Years
            2 months, 17 days 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
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          Prefer Ars defence, Pool’s leaky

      • Mom, Butters just gave me a…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 months, 17 days 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
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          Too busy getting a big sofa for tomorrow afternoon

        2. Sun Jihai
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          5 points isn't a haul

          1. Haa-lala-land
            • 5 Years
            2 months, 17 days ago

            He did say mini haul

            1. Mom, Butters just gave me a…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 4 Years
              2 months, 17 days ago

              Thanks..

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

          2. Baps Hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            2 months, 17 days ago

            It's a return, nothing else.

      • Count of Monte Hristo
        • 12 Years
        2 months, 17 days 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
          • 6 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          The one that doesn't start

      • Haa-lala-land
        • 5 Years
        2 months, 17 days ago

        Leeds, Sunderland Burnley all to win?

        1. Bobby Digital
          • 8 Years
          2 months, 17 days ago

          With clean sheets please

          1. Haa-lala-land
            • 5 Years
            2 months, 17 days ago

            3 x 1-0 wins incoming

          2. Haa-lala-land
            • 5 Years
            2 months, 17 days ago

            Where's the delete/edit function?!

      • Twisted Saltergater
        • 16 Years
        2 months, 17 days ago

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