Scout Notes

Salah and Mané show promise despite blanks against Spurs

Saturday’s early kick-off proved a nervy one for Fantasy Premier League managers who had sold Liverpool assets.

The Reds were comfortably the better team at Wembley but ultimately their highly-owned Fantasy assets could not convert that into points.

In this latest Scout Notes article, we’ve taken a look at exactly how that could impact the Fantasy landscape going forward.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1-2 LIVERPOOL

Goals: Erik Lamela (£6.4m) | Georginio Wijnaldum (£5.5m), Roberto Firmino (£9.4m)

Assists: Christian Eriksen (£9.3m)

The decision of some Fantasy managers to reduce the size of their Liverpool contingent was justified on Saturday lunch-time. However, several of the Reds’ premium assets were close to registering points in the match and could still offer potential going forward.

Mohamed Salah (£13.0m) blanked for the second match in a row but was joint-top for shots in the box for the encounter. His colleague Sadio Mané (£10.0m) registered the same number as him, with an additional effort outside the penalty area to boot.

Furthermore, Salah was joint-top in the match for chances created while Mané could have registered an assist were it not for an unorthodox combination of touches on his cross for Roberto Firmino‘s (£9.4m) goal.

Jan Vertonghen (£6.0m) touched his square pass onto the post, it cannoned back off it across the goal-line before Michel Vorm (£5.0m) got a touch in trying to claim it. That left Firmino unchallenged to tap in, but Mané should definitely take credit for his part in the goal, even if it was not worthy of an assist.

Liverpool were the much more attacking side and on any other day, either of Salah or Mané might have recorded some attacking returns. Their underlying numbers certainly suggest they still have something to offer, even if they were outshone by Eden Hazard‘s (£10.7m) hat-trick later in the day. Manager Jurgen Klopp admitted that the scoreline was not a fair reflection of the match and that his side could have scored more.

“The performance today, for me, was better than the result. The result is the most important and was perfect, winning here is unbelievably difficult and you can never expect that.” – Jurgen Klopp

James Milner (£5.6m) may well prove better value than his premium-priced colleagues at a time when Fantasy managers are contemplating reducing their spend on Liverpool options.

He played the same number of key passes in the match as Salah, is also on set pieces and is the designated penalty taker when he is on the pitch.

There was some uncertainty over Milner’s place in the side during pre-season, but he has now started every Premier League match so far. In that time he has set up two goals and scored one of his own. At Wembley, it was his corner which led to Georginio Wijnaldum‘s (£5.5m) headed goal although he was not credited with an assist.

Firmino now has two goals in his last two games but may be a doubt for Gameweek 6. He picked up an eye injury after Vertonghen caught him in the face with his hand. Further assessment is required for the Brazilian.

Despite conceding a late Erik Lamela (£6.4m) goal, Liverpool’s defence is still proving that they are still worth investing in, even if their fixtures look difficult.

Spurs offered little going forward and none of their three shots on target was considered to be a big chance. That means Liverpool remain the best side in the league for big chances allowed.

“Defending against the ball, we were brilliant. We caused Tottenham a lot of problems in these situations. They are so good and so tuned and do it so confidently to pass through the lines that you need to be outstandingly brave and ready to close these gaps. They are really big sometimes, so it’s really difficult. But we did that, and I was happy with the ball how we controlled the game.” – Jurgen Klopp

However, it does appear that paying upwards of £6.0m for Andrew Robertson may prove too much when options such as Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.0m) and Joe Gomez (£5.0m) are also available. The former continued to take direct free-kicks at Wembley and could easily start to find some returns soon. His owners can certainly consider themselves a little lucky that he was substituted before Lamela’s late goal and banked clean sheet points.

Fantasy managers interested in Liverpool should also make themselves aware of Klopp’s repeated suggestions of rotation. Saturday’s match saw just Jordan Henderson (£5.3m) come out of the side, with Naby Keita (£7.4m) coming in. But it’s PSG in the Champions League on Tuesday night and more changes are expected for Gameweek 6.

“I’m not sure if we can do it on Tuesday and then next Saturday again. We have to show that. Then we have to play against Paris Saint-Germain. They won yesterday without Neymar and Mbappe so they could rest players in the league, but that’s Tuesday and not today.” – Jurgen Klopp

As for Spurs, it was another sluggish display for Harry Kane (£12.5m). He had just two shots in the match as he continues to underperform when it comes to underlying numbers. Yet again, he dropped deep trying to win possession and simply does not look worth spending £12.5m of our FPL budgets on.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino was asked if Kane was being affected by playing in a two-man attack with Lucas Moura (£7.3m) but refused to give much of a substantial answer.

“I think I respect every single opinion, but for me, it’s a collective problem. I am not going to put the finger on some player. I am happy with all the players. The circumstances are the circumstance. I told you the challenge is massive this season. We need to give time to the players to get their best and of course to show our potential in time.” – Mauricio Pochettino

Spurs’ defence does not look particularly trustworthy either. They still have just one clean in 2018/19, look vulnerable on the counter-attack and down their right-flank especially. Michel Vorm (£5.0m) was somewhat at fault for Wijnaldum’s first-half goal and even though Pochettino refused to blame him for it, his decision making in key moments was poor. His presence in the Spurs goal reduces the appeal of defensive assets further with Hugo Lloris (£5.5m) out injured.

“That is a mistake from…if you ask me if it was his mistake, I think it wasn’t his mistake because maybe my vision is different. Was a complicated situation. If you analyse the action then maybe you put the focus on a different player. Michel was involved and the team, which is responsible and I am responsible but it wasn’t the problem with not getting the three points today, I am happy with his performance. It is not easy in four seasons to be in the shadow of Lloris.” – Mauricio Pochettino

At the very least, Pochettino is prepared to admit that his team is not performing at its best, although he would not attribute it entirely to the World Cup. No Premier League side had more players still present in Russia by the final weekend of the summer tournament.

“I don’t want now to complain about the World Cup. From the beginning, I told you it’s a massive challenge, the toughest season since we started. It’s a challenge to work with a team that arrived a few days before the start of the competition. But I’m not going to complain. I think because after three victories all was fantastic and now after two defeats, it’s not a disaster. The most important is to keep the balance. I am not worried I promise you. We are going to win a lot of games. I trust completely in my squad, not 100 per cent but 200 per cent. That is my feeling. I’ve not changed my feeling from one or two months ago.” – Mauricio Pochettino

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR XI (4-2-3-1): Vorm, Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Dier (Wanyama 83′), Dembele (Lamela 59’), Winks (Son 73′), Eriksen, Lucas, Kane.

LIVERPOOL XI (4-3-3): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold (Matip 90′), Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Keita (Sturridge 83′), Milner, Salah, Firmino (Henderson 74′), Mane.

READ MORE GAMEWEEK 5 SCOUT NOTES

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4,978 Comments Post a Comment
  1. SPorting
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    How's everyone doing?

    1. J T
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Great! Thought that was a really entertaining day of fpl!

    2. PastaFasul
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Looks like almost 30 pts left on the bench....but should be 59 on the pitch so not bad

      1. PastaFasul
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Patricio and Bennett to play for Wolves

      2. SPorting
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        60pts per week in a winner.

    3. CobraKai
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      70 points pre-baps. WC went well.

    4. Lyonnais
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Shocking. Probably tripling my rank this week.

      1. SPorting
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Ouch. That bad?

    5. Demel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      68 points with 3 to go. Got to be happy with that.

    6. The 12th Man
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Great week. Just one decision wrong. Played Mkhitaryan over Periera. Can’t complain at that.

      1. Patch
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Hopefully you ignored me on Fraser...but tbf I came good on AWB ;0)

    7. moment
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      84 with 2 to go. Mostly thanks to Haz (c) and Fraser, nobody else did anything...

    8. Holding Mee Bong
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      60 after baps with Bennett, Neves and Pickford left. Will be very pleased with 70

    9. Twisted Saltergater
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Finally feel like my season has started!

    10. Point-one short
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      36 with bennett, fabianski, arnie to go. Not great.

      1. Point-one short
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Probably more than tripling my rank this gw

    11. Doctor Evil
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Well I had Hazard and Fraser so pretty good thanks 🙂

  2. The Cherry Picker
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    First post.
    Saturdays are just the best day of the week!

    1. SPorting
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Hi

    2. Point-one short
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Good result for Bournemouth! Welcome 🙂

  3. Scholsey
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    How bad are 72 points? (with Ings to go) 😀

    1. Lyonnais
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Ban!

    2. J T
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Quit

    3. SPorting
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Could be 70 by the end of the week.

    4. badgerboy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Average is 85, so a bit short of the mark.

      1. Mambino
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        as if

        1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Whoosh!

      2. Scholsey
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        yes! I should have captained Hazard! would have crossed the average!

  4. Lyonnais
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone looking at Kane for the next weeks?
    Could be the next one that explodes with his fixtures.

    1. J T
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Are you serious? Spurs don’t look like they can muster a goal between them

      1. Lyonnais
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Brighton, Huddersfield, Cardiff next

        1. J T
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          That does look good but for at 12m player I need to see substance before i move

          Form over fixtures

          1. Holding Mee Bong
            • 10 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            But then if he explodes you’re chasing points and doing the same move everyone is, that’s the risk you take trying to be ahead of the curve.

    2. Demel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      If Kun is out then him and Rich in for Pog and Kun tempts me.

    3. Holding Mee Bong
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Fixtures looks really good that’s for sure

  5. lilmessipran
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Will Alonso get an assist for Willian's goal?

    1. SPorting
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Unlikely

    2. Rainer
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Nope. Willian not his intended target/area.

  6. DavidCuz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Should I swap mane and mkhi for hazard and Fraser?

    1. Scholsey
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      too late by now

      1. DavidCuz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Why? Do Maddison instead of Fraser?

    2. CC22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Strongly considering the exact same moves, although Mane did look good. Mkhitaryan has to go though, so the move to Fraser will be happening at least!

      1. DavidCuz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        I’ve got Salah and mane though

  7. Rainer
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Sell, Sell, Sell!

    1. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      buy, buy, buy!

  8. Coaly
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Mkhi to:

    a) Maddison
    b) Moura
    c) Lingard

    1. Meinhoff
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. SPorting
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Probably A

    3. Ha.
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Not B

  9. child of God
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    I wonder how it feels being a hazard captainer?

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Ehem 😎

    2. Lucackadoodledoo
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Feels good to make the right captaincy choice for a change

  10. Lucackadoodledoo
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Think it's a case of one more game for Salah against Southampton for me and getting rid if he blanks.

    Will probably captain him though so hope he convinces me to keep him with a couple of goals.

  11. Emiliano Sala
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Which one?
    A) richarlison vs arsenal A
    B) lingard vs wolves H

  12. Woy_is_back
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Vardy or Mitrovic? Unlimited budget

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Mitro

      1. Woy_is_back
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks

  13. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Wanted to do salah and gylfi to eden and mane but 0.2 short. Tough to commit to a minus eight even if the last two weeks delaying transfers has cost me lots of points.

  14. pedro1979
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Would you WC this? Any help greatly appreciated;

    Foster Hamer
    Alonso Shaw VVD Mendy Wan-Biss
    Salah Bilva Mkhi Pedro Stephens
    Kun Arnie King

    Thinking need rid of Bilva, Mkhi, and may shift Salah for Hazard? 2 FT's and £1m in bank...

    Cheers all

    1. Ha.
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      No, just use the 2FT

  15. Ha.
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    A. Mane and Dilva
    B. Salah and Fraser

    1. Oven Glover
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      B

      1. Ha.
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        R u Shaw?

        1. Oven Glover
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Very Shaw

    1. Oven Glover
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      He’s been called worse...

      1. Rainer
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        ... here on match days.

  16. Woy_is_back
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Auba & Pedro -> Mitro & Hazard

    -4 yay or nay?

  17. Jealous Viper
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Been banging on all week as to AWB over Robbo. Think I'm allowed to fill a little smug even though No Mendy still meant Robbo comes in 🙁

    1. Gentle_Turks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      yes but Pool only conceded in the 93rd minute. Very nearly another CS for Robertson.

  18. I'm out of name ideas
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Jose's got a red nose.

    1. Rainer
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Winter is Coming!

    2. Syd.
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Turning into SAF

  19. DivocksHighSocks
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    what's a good score this week?

    1. Darth_Krid
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Something I could only dream of.

    2. grumpyman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Anything higher than the 10k average (46).

      1. DivocksHighSocks
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        how do you find this out for future reference?

          1. DivocksHighSocks
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 1 month ago

            thanks

    3. Scholsey
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      75

  20. Darth_Krid
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    It's such a huge relief hitting the WC button...then immediately the stress is back stronger than ever with all the permutations going on 😀

  21. lilmessipran
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Haven't seen a Sunday with such dull fixtures in quite a while

    1. Demel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Always the same when Champs League kicks in.

    2. Rash
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Last Sunday for starts 😉

    3. Syd.
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Always happens this time of year as teams involved in the Champions League group stages always play on a Saturday

    4. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      They’re not too bad, check out gameweek 7!!

  22. Demel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Pog & Jimenez to...

    A) Vardy & Ward (Ward rotate with Docherty & AWB)
    B) Wilson & Rich (both to play every week)

    1. tafrère
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      B

  23. Syd.
    • 15 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Lukaku out of the Baps

  24. Coaly
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Which is more important to do?

    a) Walcott to Richarlison
    b) Arnie to Mitrovic

    1. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      B

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Nice one thanks, forgot to do this!

      The int. break was too long

      1. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Tell me about it

  25. Teror
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    I hope those Aguero and Firmino injuries aren't serious because with Ings ineligible to play Liverpool next week my entire front line is out.

  26. FootballFanatic365
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    salah + Mkhi + Pedro > Haza + Mane + Maddison (-4)

    y/n ?

    1. Teror
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Yeh man

  27. WVA
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Had a pretty awesome back 5 today.... couldn't have imagined the below.

    Alonso 2
    Mendy 0
    Robertson 2
    Trippier 1
    Shaw 0

    1. Point-one short
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Ouch

  28. Bruce Lee
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Who else has had Fraser since week 1?

    Big pick

    1. Rash
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      O/

    2. moment
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Nearly shifted him last night due to a non-playing bench, but kept him on the basis of you never know. Glad i didn’t. Season keeper from henceforth I think.