Dugout Discussion

Starts for Salah, Firmino and Mane in Liverpool’s season opener

As expected, there are starts for Liverpool’s attacking trio of Mohamed Salah (£13.0m), Sadio Mane (£9.5m) and Roberto Firmino (£9.5) as the Reds welcome West Ham United to Anfield this afternoon.

Fabinho (£6.0m), who missed a penalty in the Tuesday night friendly win over Torino, is only fit enough for a place on the substitute’s bench after struggling with illness this week. James Milner (£5.5m) however has recovered from a head injury to take his place in the three-man midfield alongside Georgino Wijnaldum (£5.5m) and Naby Keita (£7.5m).

Joe Gomez (£5.0m) has won his own fitness battle to line up in the Liverpool defence, which is otherwise at full strength. Alisson (£5.5m) makes his league debut for the Reds between the sticks.

Having missed West Ham United’s final pre-season fixtures with a hip injury, Andriy Yarmolenko (£7.0m) only features as a substitute for the Hammers today. Michail Antonio (£7.0m) takes his place on the right flank.

Declan Rice (£4.5m) looks set to feature out of position in the West Ham midfield, while there are competitive Irons debuts for Lukasz Fabianski (£4.5m), Ryan Fredericks (£5.0m), Fabian Balbuena (£4.5m), Jack Wilshere (£5.0m) and Felipe Anderson (£7.0m).

In the other 13:30 BST kick-off, Cedric Soares (£4.5m) has been passed fit to play at wing-back after missing all of Southampton’s pre-season.

Jack Stephens (£4.5m) gets the nod over Jan Bednarek (£4.0m) in central defence, while Manolo Gabbiadini  (£6.0m) is only among the substitutes – along with Danny Ings (£5.5m).

Charlie Austin (£6.0m) is supported by Nathan Redmond and Stuart Armstrong (both £5.5m) in attack.

Matthew Lowton and Stephen Ward (both £5.0m) return at full-back for Burnley after being rested for the Thursday night Europa League fixture in Istanbul, while Chris Wood (£6.5m) is the sole striker in the attack.

Joe Hart (£4.5m) makes his Burnley league debut, with Tom Heaton (£5.0m) watching on from the bench.

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Milner, Keita; Firmino, Salah, Mane

West Ham XI (4-3-3): Fabianski; Fredericks, Ogbonna, Balbuena, Masuaku; Noble, Rice, Wilshere; Arnautovic, Antonio, Anderson

Southampton XI (3-4-2-1): McCarthy; Hoedt, Vestergaard, Stephens; Soares, Romeu, Lemina, Bertrand; Armstrong, Redmond; Austin

Burnley XI (4-4-1-1): Hart; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Ward; Gudmundsson, Westwood, Cork, Lennon; Hendrick; Wood

2,783 Comments Post a Comment
  1. yanks250125
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Anyone got the team IDs of our trusted fellas? Andy is 662 but anyone know the others?

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Why do you trust them?

      1. yanks250125
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        same reason we're all on this site to begin with

    2. Meppelfield
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Go to andys page and find the mods and cons league. Voila.

    3. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Go to FFS Mods and Cons League on Andy's page.

    4. Viprin
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Are you just gonna follow their teams?

  2. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Hopefully Mendy, Bernardo and Aguero can replicate Robertson, Mane and Salah. Terrific Trio’s they are

    1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Yep, I have all six 😀

      1. JONALDINHO
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Super six!

    2. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      This*

  3. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    I’d have hit the 100+ mark if United didn’t concede last kick...

    1. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I could have hit 150 with all the highest scoring players

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        😆

    2. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I’d have hit the 100+ mark if Kabasele scored a hat trick...

    3. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Same.

    4. Marstar
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I'd have hit my wife if ...

      Edit: wifi (auto- correct)

  4. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Bullet dodged. No Salah but still on 50 pts with a few to play. Phew

    1. Alnair
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Just get him in, he got played in about 5 times today and could've had more.

    2. The Wise Owl
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Risky!

    3. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      If only 50 then the risk certainly wasn't worth it.

  5. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Sane benched, second guessing peo starts now, hell of a team alot of options this man have

    1. Nightf0x
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      *pep

    2. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Not a suprise after his CS performance

  6. jia you
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    If only I'd capainted Mane over King, was 50/50 on it, would have reached triple digits! lol@firstworldproblems

    1. jia you
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      reply fail to Papamoa

    2. The Wise Owl
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Ownership was scary for Salah, was the better pick at the time

    3. MC Hammer
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      If only I’d captained the Biss

  7. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Which do you prefer?

    a) Kane + Wilson

    b) Aubameyang + Vardy

    1. Marstar
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      B for me ... until September at least :p

  8. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Use my FT for Hughes > Neves?

    No Brainer?

    1. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Yep. Don’t do it

      1. the dom 1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Keep Will Hughes then lad?

    2. Winners900
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I'm thinking I might do that as well really.

      Hughes->Neves

      1. the dom 1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        I will see how this game pans out with City & Gunners then make a decision I think?

        1. Winners900
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          yeah injuries can happen

    3. Sylas
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      You wouldn't be asking the question if it was a no-brainer.

      1. the dom 1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        forget I said no brainer then lol

  9. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    forwards have all been shite so far, hopefully Kun shows them how it's done

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Zaha and Vardy scored

    2. Guy Demel
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Salah, mane, KDB will be my base going forward I think... plenty to work with around them

  10. Shrimpy
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Boy do I wanna FT Alexis > Mane

    1. The Wise Owl
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Sanchez have Brighton next

      1. The Wise Owl
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        has*

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Do it. Mane, Eriksen or KDB.

      Bobby's turn to haul next week tho

    3. MC Hammer
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Do it

  11. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    This FPL caper is mad isn't it 🙂

  12. The Wise Owl
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Salah > Neves, asking for a friend

    1. MC Hammer
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Do it, you’ll be a friend for life

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      obviously

      Neves = 12 points for 5.0m - 2.4 points per £1m
      Salah = 8 points for 13.0m - 1.6 points per £1m

      By my calculations that makes Neves approximately 150% better than Salah

      1. Ben Mee Over A Table
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        8 points for 13 mil = 0.6 ppm

      2. piquiblanco
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Boy you screwed up the maths here.

    3. SweeSwee
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      No brainer

  13. CYN
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Dont like chasing points.

    Hold on these 3 right?

    Arnie
    Moura
    Sanchez

    1. Genji3lade
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      im concerned about Moura's minutes, but yes hodl the other two

  14. Captain Vantastic™
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    79 with Aguero and Bernardo to go. Red arrow?

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I’ll give you a red card

      1. Captain Vantastic™
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        🙁

    2. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Do 1 maybe even 2

    3. Speédy
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Ban

    4. Sylas
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Another weirdo seeking validation on his score.

  15. Rotation's Alter Ego
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Loving seeing so many high scores around here. Very pleased to see some good names get well deserved scores.

    Just don't do too well all season please 😉

    1. Football Heaven
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      You deserve the high scores around here. Somehow you manage to stay nice and genuine

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

      I feel the same. Great to see this good first GW to many of us that throughout the last 2 weeks were here discussing several ideas 🙂

  16. Football Heaven
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    I know it’s early days but I can’t seem to find a way to get any arsenal players in for their good run of fixtures. This is based on players such as Aguero, continuing to perform and the fact that laca doesn’t look nailed

    1. Four Hit Wonder
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Ramsey is a player who gets retuns against poor teams so I'm bringing him in for the nice fixtures for Ars.

    2. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Hoping Aguero scores, Auba blanks and price drops. Easy switch later on lol.

  17. Four Hit Wonder
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    83 pts with Bilva, Aguero and Laca still to play. Emery apparently will only field Laca and Auba together in games vs poor oposition. So that's 9.5m wasted.

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I made the same mistake

    2. Football Heaven
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Is that last statement correct because if so he’d be great (laca) from gw3 to gw6 at least

    3. Speédy
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      They will start together against all teams except City,Spurs,Pool,Chelsea imo.

  18. Dušan Citizen
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Fraser neutralized no Richarlison for me.

    Please Mahrez, do same for Mane.

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Need all 4 + Salah 😉

      1. Dušan Citizen
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Damned Eriksen 🙁

  19. Kellz86
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    All these ppl saying Salah to Mane because Salah isn't worth it at 13mil must have a pretty short memory - it wasn't so long ago Aguero was essential at the same price.

    Salah is clearly the more dangerous player and bigger goal threat - today just happened to be a better day for Mane. Just watch it switch next week.

    1. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Safe money on both

  20. Limbo
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    I’m guessing some folk already hit triple digits then? Good start to the year. Loads of goals / CSs

  21. New Post
  22. The Wise Owl
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Neves to likely rise tonight

    1. Gazpilicueta
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      are you trolling?

    2. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      hope not I am thinking of doing Hughes > Neves after this game.

  23. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Arno and King fail, keep faith at least 1 more week probably right though. What do you think?

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Arnie better not be injured or I am going to smash up my sitting room

    2. Marstar
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Yes, hold. Arnie had a tough gig at Anfield and King was good in a FPL non-scoring kinda way.

  24. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    How much do you focus on gaining value early doors?

  25. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    City playing in Pyjamas.

  26. Moshinp4p
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Could someone kindly link ville ronkes team can't seem to find it

  27. Alexis Nonsense
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    A bit early, but I need to replace Martial (pls don't laugh :P)

    Got Richarlison, Mahrez, Salah

    Looking at Ramsey, Pedro/Willian....

    1. Von Lipwig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Willian over Pedro, Ramsey's got some good fixtures after Arsenal finish getting thrashed. Have you thought about a bandwagon (i.e Neves)?

      1. Alexis Nonsense
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Yes Neves on my mind, but if I go Ramsey I'll have 0.5 to do Stephens-->Neves next gw (if nothing gets in my way)

        1. Alexis Nonsense
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Guess Neves will be 4.6 by then....ah I'll reverse it

          Get Neves now then Ramsey after Che

        2. Von Lipwig
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Good plan... No one seems to be considering Jorginho over Neves, just a thought as he did good for me for just 5m this week.

          1. Alexis Nonsense
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            Nice shout, I'll keep in mind

  28. CLASS OF 78
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    BSilva -> Mane was nailed for me before that. Then he moves forward. Then he does that! Now what???