Opinion

The Knee Jerk – Gameweek 1 – Saturday

A classic knee jerk in the making, Mohamed Salah owners were already fidgeting by half-time at Vicarage Road.

Fresh from four goals in pre-season, he had endured an inauspicious start to life back in the Premier League. A toe-poked skyward effort when through on goal, packaged up with several over miscues and errant first touches totalled a miserable first 45 minutes for Salah.

In contrast, Sadio Mane had sparkled and smartly converted Emre Can’s flick to peg back a plucky first half Watford showing.

Shifted to the left flank by Salah’s arrival, it looked as though Mane had adjusted to already demonstrate that he was back as the go-to guy among the opulence in Liverpool’s attack.

But things were to turn dramatically.

Just through sheer pace and endeavour, Salah first won a penalty via Heurelho Gomes’ clumsy telescopic arms and then sprinted to convert Roberto Firmino’s chipped effort from two yards out.

He ended on 11 points and was quickly installed as the top transfer target from those in action on the day.

He tallied five shots, all in the penalty area and eight touches in the box – more than any other midfielder in Gameweek 1 so far. Just as we expected, the statistics are Salah’s friend and will likely reinforce his case throughout the season.

Mane, who picked up a booking, was left trailing and, on today’s evidence, will clearly have his work cut out to justify his billing as the most expensive option in Jurgen Klopp’s armoury.

Owned by 23.5% to Salah’s 23.3%, that narrow gap is closing as Philippe Coutinho owners bail out, turning to the Egyptian as their replacement.

It is, of course, early days and it’s back at Anfield where Mane has previously been so potent.

Nine of his 13 goals arrived on Merseyside last season and he will have Crystal Palace in his sights for Gameweek 2.

Firmino also deserves our recognition. With Klopp relegating James Milner to his bench, the Brazilian was again on penalty duties and expertly converted following Salah’s tumble.

With the assist to follow, Firmino waltzed his way to the maximum bonus points, already benefiting from his new classification as a forward.

If Milner is to remain out of favour – presumably now discounted as a left-back – then Firmino will surely prosper.

Liverpool won eight penalties last season, with all but one converted by Milner. Firmino scored 11 goals regardless.

We have no reason to expect that Liverpool’s penalty count will regress. Indeed, with Salah adding his pace to Mane’s bursts, there’s every chance it will be maintained or even increased.

The conclusion is that Firmino’s stock is on the rise and that suddenly, Mane is in danger of slipping further down our Liverpool attack pecking order.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

4,257 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    1.4% own both Cahill and Fabregas

    1. TEKKERS FC
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      My brother is one of them

  2. Kane-harry Island
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    I really want to keep KDB for a long time but the fact that he takes corners short really irritates me

    1. TEKKERS FC
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Yep while Silva puts them in the box

    2. Lanzini girls just want to …
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      I really don't want to sell kdb just yet but I really want to free up the money on Liverpool players

    3. There's Always One!
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      He will be good but the way I see it is if I sell him I can get 2 stronger players into my team. So bye bye kdb

  3. WE ARE RANGERS
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    What are iwobi owners doing? Tempted to get Gross but not convinced as my 4th mid

    1. TEKKERS FC
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Will have a look at tonights games then make a decision

    2. Lanzini girls just want to …
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      I swapped for xhaka

  4. AC Tomasso
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Im hoping for a Ritchie pen 😀

  5. Ronnies
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Best site for price changes guys?

    Tnks

  6. TEKKERS FC
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Xhaka naildness ?

    1. Conwhe
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      After Arsenal last 2 fixtures surely won't be dropped. Have him in my FPL and SS teams. He doesn't have a massive amount of competition for that place.
      I really think this will be a great season for him.

  7. amitmishr
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Have lukaku mounie and laca as strikers. Post yesterday game, morata looked quite handful. Should I wait to see how he plays against established team this week or make a move with laca

  8. MarceloSalasManUtd97-98
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Mounie, I told you all about him and you ignored me.

    So I'm going to give you some fantasy gold right now.

    Things we know. Lacazette and Morata and both the real deal, watching them both, their link up play is quality and they look a cut above the rest.

    Jesus, is also the real deal, but like the City attack/ midfield, the points spread is going to vary heavily week in, week out, so you are damn sure going to be prone to knee jerk reactions, taking out your City player when he scores 2 points one week, only for him to score 10 the next and 2 the next. City are a headache.

    Salah and Mane, real deals. If they get the supply they need and Wijnaldum and Henderson can step up and give it to them, they could be 200 plus pointers.

    Mounie, as I stated pre-season, he is going to be fantasy gold. Just get him in ASAP.

    Kyle Walker is Fantasy Gold! he plays as a right winger practically, big, big returns from him this season, will easily be the highest scoring defender in the game.

    Saints are and will always be a solid, solid defence. Stephens is the pick of the bunch at 5.0.

    4.5's. Tom Carroll scored 3 points but he is looking like a 120-130 midfielder, nice touches, sees the pitch well, prime to take over from Sigurdsson. Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Ok Palace had a shocker, but did anyone watch Mensah? what a player, I'm expecting a big season from him with plenty of bonus points, Palace line up well and will be very decent when they get in their stride.

    If I could pick a fantasy 11 right now that look Golden it would be as follows:

    Foster, Mensah, Walker, Davies, Salah, Eriksen, Alli, Xhaka, Mounie, Lukaku, Lacazette.

    1. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      So basically you've just picked the best players from GW1. Well done.

      1. MarceloSalasManUtd97-98
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 7 months ago

        8 of which I already had in my starting line up. Don't hate me cos you ain't me!

    2. There's Always One!
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      No mick?

  9. Gregor
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Hmmm.

    1. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Test.

      1. Gregor
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 7 months ago

        Test.

        1. Gregor
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 7 months ago

          Test.

          1. Gregor
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            6 years, 7 months ago

            Test.

  10. There's Always One!
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Just seen the Liverpool highlights. Going by them Salah done nothing apart from the tap in and being brought down

    1. HellasLEAF
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      It's early days in the Prem for him but agree he needs to shore more to justify. .5 more looking cheap for Mane at the moment..

  11. HellasLEAF
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Having a hard time picking between Kompany and Bailly as steady CB investment with potential goal threat from corner.

    1. Johnny Leghorn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Kompany for me.